An artwork on Galleree from Cleveland Museum of Art.
About the artwork
Enclosed Valleyc. 1623–30
Hercules Seghers
To make his dreamy and mysterious landscapes, Hercules Seghers combined a number of etching and coloring techniques in order to make prints that met his expressive ends, and which he considered printed paintings. He created 54 etchings, but instead of producing standardized editions printed in black ink on white paper, he made each impression a unique and individualized work of art. He often printed in colored inks on paper prepared with a colored ground, or on cloth (as here), and then painted the printed impression by hand. Cleveland’s etching is one of only ten known impressions of the first state of this print.
Though largely unknown today, Hercules Segers was one of Rembrandt's favorite artists: he owned eight paintings and one printing plate by Seghers.
etching on cloth, hand colored with watercolor
Platemark: 10.7 x 19 cm (4 3/16 x 7 1/2 in.)
John L. Severance Fund
In a quiet corner of the art world, a remarkable figure emerged: Hercules Seghers, a master of the ethereal and mysterious. Picture him, amidst a cascade of tools and colors in a softly lit studio, his spirit weaving a tapestry of dreams onto paper. Seghers saw landscapes not merely as scenes to be captured but as remnants of something profound—he referred to his creations as "printed paintings."
He embarked on an artistic journey, crafting 54 etchings that breathed life into his imaginative visions. But instead of conforming to the market’s demand for uniform prints in stark black ink, he chose a different path—one that embraced individuality. Each piece he created was as unique as a fingerprint, a testament to his desire to create a personal dialogue with the viewer.
Imagine the vibrant hues swirling around him as he experimented with colored inks, carefully preparing his canvases with tinted grounds or even fabric. In one of his corners sat a work titled Cleveland’s etching, a true treasure among his oeuvre. This particular piece stands as one of only ten known impressions of its first state, a rare glimpse into his artistic mind—a delicate balance of pondering hues and intricate lines, illuminated by the soft whispers of his brush.
In each print, Seghers achieved a profound connection between the paper and the artist's soul, transforming simple landscapes into portals of emotion and imagination, leaving whispers of stories that linger long after they've been seen.
About the artist
Creating transformative experiences through art “for the benefit of all the people forever.”The Cleveland Museum of Art is renowned for the quality and breadth of its collection, which includes more than 66,500 artworks and spans 6,000 years of achievement in the arts. The artworks shared on this platform are sourced from the museum's Open Access data under the CC0 license. No endorsement is implied.Address: 11150 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH, USA 44106
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