Winter 1708 - 1727

Johann Christoph Steinberger created this monochromatic etching entitled "Winter." The composition's structure relies on a tension between the organic and the geometric, with the natural scene of winter skaters on ice encased within an elaborate, decorative frame. This frame features motifs of foliage and grotesque masks, contrasting the lively, human activity it surrounds. The icicles hanging from the fountain at the top mimic the stark, bare trees within the scene, creating visual echoes. The oval at the center of the image destabilizes any fixed perspective, presenting winter not as a backdrop, but as a curated view. Steinberger uses the etching technique to explore gradations of light and shadow. This renders texture and depth, particularly in the icy fountain and distant landscape. The very act of framing invites us to consider how we perceive and categorize nature. It suggests that our understanding is always mediated, structured by cultural forms.