A Rocky Pond1640
Laurent de La Hyre made this in 1640, aged 34. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. More about this work
About this work
The image is a landscape view with a natural scene depicted in fine etching. The horizon is situated towards the middle of the composition, where the land gently rises, and a subtle outline of distant hills is visible. Large rocks and foliage are depicted close to us, with a lone, barren tree extending upwards on the left side. The etching features intricate and well-defined brushstrokes, including thin lines and cross-hatching to create texture and depth. The color palette is monochromatic, with dark tones against a lighter background. In the distance, additional clusters of trees can be seen, rendered with similar linework to convey movement and detail.
Description from the National Gallery of Art.
Laurent de La Hyre made this in 1640, aged 34. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
How it was made
- Etching
- The artist draws with a needle through a waxy coating on a copper plate, and acid bites the exposed lines. The plate is then inked, wiped and printed under pressure, so the line keeps the freedom of drawing.
- Laid paper
- Handmade on a mould of close-set wires, which leave fine parallel lines you can see when the sheet is held to the light.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Gallery of Art has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 2002.157.46
- Credit
- Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Type
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
Report this work
More by Laurent de La Hyre
All their worksClose in colour
