Landschap met boerderij in de bocht van een rivier 1862 - 1913

Alphonse Stengelin created this landscape with a farmhouse near a river bend using etching techniques. The artwork is made by the meticulous labor of incising lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and pressed onto paper to create the image. Look closely at the tonal range in the piece, achieved through varying the density and depth of the etched lines. The subtle gradations of light and shadow suggest skilled artisanship and meticulous attention to detail. The scene is idyllic: a tranquil river with a sailboat in the distance, a thatched-roof farmhouse nestled amongst trees. Yet in the background stand the chimneys, which serve as a reminder of the encroachment of industrialization on rural life. Stengelin masterfully employs this printmaking technique to capture both the beauty and the changing realities of the late 19th and early 20th century landscape. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images can convey complex messages about labor, landscape, and the impact of progress.