Jakob wentelt de steen van de put Possibly 1585 - 1702

Jan van Londerseel created this print, "Jakob Wentelt de steen van de put," using engraving techniques. The landscape’s composition is structured around a sharp contrast between the detailed foreground and a more diffused background, drawing our eyes into the scene. Londerseel masterfully uses line and form. Dense, dark lines create depth and texture in the forest, while finer, lighter lines evoke a sense of distance and openness in the background. This contrast not only creates an illusion of depth but also serves a semiotic function, symbolizing the transition from the known, immediate world to the distant, less defined future. Notice how the artist challenges the traditional landscape. The symmetry is disrupted, drawing attention to the human activity at the well. This decentering can be seen as a commentary on the shifting values of the time.