Rocky Landscape with a Tall Tower c. 1623 - 1625

Hercules Segers made this etching of a rocky landscape with a tall tower sometime in the early 17th century. Segers was working in Amsterdam, in the newly independent Dutch Republic, a place defined by its flat topography. Segers had a strong interest in landscape. He seems to have been particularly fascinated with rugged, mountainous terrain, quite unlike the local scenery. These remote landscapes have been linked to the rise of Calvinism, which emphasized a personal relationship with God, away from the established church. The solitary tower that we see emerging in this landscape hints at human presence, but it is small, as if nature will eventually overwhelm human endeavors. The image is made through etching, which could be printed and disseminated widely. The etching process allowed Segers to create multiple versions of his landscape, giving the artwork a life outside the artist's studio. Understanding the context in which this work was created involves looking at its cultural background and the development of printmaking as an industry. By connecting these, we can develop a richer understanding of this image.