Bear is spoken to by Lion and Wolf c. 17th century

Editor: This is Allart van Everdingen's "Bear is spoken to by Lion and Wolf," an early engraving. The density of the line work gives it a really interesting texture. What stands out to you? Curator: Note how Everdingen, most known as a landscape painter, translated his understanding of materials onto the copper plate. The density and directionality of the lines create not just texture but also the illusion of volume, mimicking how light would interact with actual fur and foliage. Editor: That's fascinating. So you're saying he's thinking about the physical properties of the things he's depicting even in this medium? Curator: Exactly. It's about the process of translating observed reality through the labor of engraving. Notice how the image is also in reverse. Editor: I never would have thought of that connection between material representation and the engraving process.