Distant View with a Road and Mossy Branches c. 1622 - 1625

Hercules Segers made this print, Distant View with a Road and Mossy Branches, probably in the 1620s, using etching and aquatint. Segers was an alchemist of printmaking, always experimenting with materials. He often printed his plates in colored inks on tinted paper, sometimes even fabric, to create unique impressions. The rough texture seen here comes from the aquatint process, where resin dust is applied to the plate before etching, resulting in a granular surface. What's fascinating is how Segers manipulated the etching process to mimic the irregularities of the natural world. The stark contrast between light and shadow, combined with the rough texture, gives the landscape a sense of drama and scale. It's as if Segers wasn't just depicting a landscape but trying to capture the very essence of nature's raw beauty through his craft. Segers elevates printmaking from a mere reproductive technique to a deeply expressive art form, blurring the lines between craft and fine art.