Landschap met twee houten bruggen over rivier en cascade 1622

Matthäus Merian created this landscape etching of two wooden bridges around 1620. The structure of the landscape is built upon a play of contrasts. Look at how Merian uses the sharp, angular lines of the rocky terrain on the left to offset the soft, rounded forms of the trees and clouds. This division creates a dynamic tension, drawing our eye across the scene. The bridges themselves act as linear connectors, visually linking these disparate elements and guiding our gaze deeper into the composition. Consider also the light and shadow. The artist's use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a sense of depth, emphasizing the three-dimensionality of the landscape. Yet, this very technique also flattens certain areas, reminding us of the print's two-dimensional surface. It is in the interplay between depth and flatness, between the natural and the constructed, that the print operates, highlighting the enduring dialogue between the eye and the world.