Le Paysan et son chien 1605 - 1650

Jean Morin created this print, "Le Paysan et son chien," in the 17th century. The composition presents a pastoral scene encapsulated within a circle, immediately drawing our attention to the interplay between form and landscape. Morin's technique emphasizes line and texture. The etching's density varies to create depth and shadow. Notice how the foreground is rendered with a tighter weave of lines, giving way to the softer, more diffuse treatment of the sky. This contrast encourages the eye to wander from the peasant and his dog to the distant horizon. The circular format, unusual for landscapes of this period, frames the scene and focuses our gaze, transforming the landscape into an object of contemplation, a world complete within itself. Consider how the artist uses the circle not just as a border but as a structural element that invites us to ponder the limits and possibilities of representation itself. The print destabilizes the traditional landscape by confining it to a non-traditional shape.