Mountain Landscape with a Crest, Second Version c. 1622 - 1625

Hercules Segers made this etching of a "Mountain Landscape with a Crest, Second Version" sometime in the early 17th century. Look closely and you will notice how the landscape is dominated by craggy rocks and precipitous forms. Segers was working at a time when Dutch artists were beginning to specialize in landscape, a reflection of both national pride and the economic possibilities of land reclamation. Segers was unusual for his time because he combined printmaking with painting. His techniques, which included colored inks and fabric impressions, resulted in prints that resemble paintings. His atmospheric style of landscape was unconventional in the Dutch Golden Age. Other artists were producing idealized, panoramic views or closely observed, realistic scenes. Segers was concerned with imaginative exploration, even fantasy. To fully appreciate the art of this period, we need to look beyond the traditional art history and consider the economic, social, and political conditions of the time.