Landscape in Winter 1846

Charles Jacque's "Landscape in Winter", created sometime in the mid-19th century, is a masterclass in the graphic possibilities of etching. The composition invites us into a seemingly desolate, snow-laden scene. Jacque’s use of line is particularly striking. Notice how dense networks of cross-hatching define the foreground, giving a sense of depth and texture to the snow-covered ground, which contrasts with the sparse, horizontal lines that sketch the sky. This technique emphasizes the heavy, material presence of the winter landscape. The placement of the trees, silhouetted against the cold sky, serves not just as a representation, but as an exploration of form. These bare branches, almost calligraphic in their rendering, break the horizon line. Consider this work as an engagement with the semiotics of landscape, a system where each element—tree, sky, field—carries coded meanings, reflecting cultural ideas about nature and humanity.