Donkeys 

Here we see Herman van Swanevelt's etching, "Donkeys." Notice how the intricate network of etched lines defines the forms and textures, giving depth and a sense of material presence to the pastoral scene. Swanevelt's composition is structured around the contrast between light and shadow, which models the donkeys and articulates the surrounding landscape. The density of lines in the foreground gradually loosens toward the horizon, creating an illusion of depth, and drawing our eyes to the figure of the herdsman resting. The image is both representational and an exercise in pictorial structure. Van Swanevelt uses line not just to depict but also to explore the expressive possibilities of the medium. The etching becomes a study in contrasts, a balance between realism and artifice. This allows us to recognize that the image is not merely a window onto a scene but a construction of lines and tones designed to evoke both visual and intellectual pleasure.