# A Rocky Pond

**Laurent de La Hyre** (French, 1606–1656)  
1640  
etching on laid paper  
sheet (cut within platemark): 10.2 x 15.6 cm (4 x 6 1/8 in.)

Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington, 2002.157.46. [The museum's record](https://www.nga.gov/collection/art-object-page.127566.html).

## About this work

Laurent de La Hyre made this in 1640, aged 34. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.

### What you’re looking at

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._

### 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.

### [Laurent de La Hyre](https://www.ochreeditions.com/artists/laurent-de-la-hyre)

French, 1606–1656

## Facts

- Type: Print
- The artist was 34
- Real size: about 4 × 6 in (10 × 16 cm). The original is small: even the 8 × 10 in print shows it larger than life.
- Century: 17th century
- Subjects: Landscape, Tree, Water, Rock, Nature
- Colour: brown
- Rights: public domain (CC0 1.0); free to use for any purpose.

## Get it

- Free download, full resolution: https://img.ochreeditions.com/m/1653.jpg?dl=1
- Image: https://img.ochreeditions.com/a/1653/1920.jpg
- Giclée reproduction on Hahnemühle Photo Rag: 8 × 10 in $28; 11 × 14 in $38; 12 × 16 in $42; 16 × 20 in $56; 18 × 24 in $68; 20 × 30 in $86
- Framed reproduction: 8 × 10 in $78; 11 × 14 in $98; 12 × 16 in $108; 16 × 20 in $138; 18 × 24 in $164; 20 × 30 in $208
- Canvas reproduction: 8 × 10 in $58; 11 × 14 in $72; 12 × 16 in $79; 16 × 20 in $98; 18 × 24 in $118
- Print-ready file: 8 × 10 in $2; 11 × 14 in $2; 12 × 16 in $3; 16 × 20 in $3; 18 × 24 in $3; 20 × 30 in $5

Sizes stop where the museum's file would print below 150 pixels per inch. Everything sold is a reproduction, made to order. [Order a print](https://www.ochreeditions.com/art/a-rocky-pond-nga-127566).