Rocky Landscape with Low Clouds c. 1625 - 1630

Hercules Segers made this print, Rocky Landscape with Low Clouds, sometime in the early 17th century using etching and possibly other techniques like aquatint. Segers was a true material obsessive, constantly experimenting with printmaking. In this piece, the rugged texture of the landscape is not just represented, but also achieved through a complex layering of ink and tone. He often used textiles to add texture to the printing process. The final image is the result of an intense, almost obsessive working of the plate. The amount of labor involved speaks to the tradition of craft, where value is generated through time and skill. Segers elevates printmaking, typically a reproductive medium, into something unique and deeply personal. He reminds us that the value of art lies not just in its subject, but in the transformative processes that bring it into being.