Landschap met herders in storm 1673 - 1695

Curator: Nicolas Perelle created this etching titled "Landschap met herders in storm" sometime between 1673 and 1695. It's currently held at the Rijksmuseum. What strikes you first about it? Editor: The wind! You can almost feel the gale force coming off that sky and bending those poor trees. The dynamism is compelling, considering it's a print. Curator: Absolutely. Let’s consider that. Printmaking allowed for wider distribution and, therefore, accessibility to a broader public. How does that context shift our perception? Are these winds affecting lords and ladies or the working class? Editor: Good point. The figures are small but clearly present: ordinary herders and their livestock trudging along a path. Note how Perelle uses hatching and cross-hatching to create a sense of depth and drama, guiding the viewer’s eye along with them. Curator: Yes, and the paper itself plays a role. Think about its texture, its sourcing. It speaks to the industries that supported the production of images like this – papermaking, engraving, even the transportation of materials. Was this produced for commercial or artistic purposes, how can we interpret it? Editor: From a formal perspective, I am intrigued by the almost monochromatic palette. It forces you to focus on the subtle gradations of light and shadow. This tonal range gives such expressive possibilities that adds so much narrative complexity to a rather small piece of paper. Curator: True. The landscape, etched meticulously into a copper plate then transferred, it's a manufactured scene, and a symbolic product of Perelle’s and the etcher’s labor which is itself a trade within the scope of the Rijksmuseum's interests in its historic production methods. Editor: The swirling clouds above give the impression that nature and humans alike are being exposed to external pressure. A humbling experience that gives this piece a contemplative quality, wouldn't you agree? Curator: Definitely. Considering the era, one might even see reflections of social and political turmoil embedded within the natural scene, echoing in those dramatically bending trees. It all gives insight into labor systems and material cultures in which artists participated. Editor: The conversation is essential as it bridges this technical craft to artistic expression. A great demonstration that materials not only enable expression, they enhance interpretation!