Landschap met onweer 1700 - 1730

This landscape with thunderstorm was made by Monogrammist MEG using an engraving technique. This is a printmaking process, where the artist carves an image into a flat surface, typically a metal plate, using a tool called a burin. The incised lines hold ink, and when the plate is pressed onto paper, the image transfers. Here, the material of the metal plate, with its capacity to hold fine lines, allows for an incredible level of detail. Look closely, and you’ll see how the engraved lines create a range of tones and textures, from the dark, ominous clouds to the delicate foliage. The way the artist has rendered the figures in the landscape really speaks to the social context of this piece; they are small and seemingly at the mercy of the weather. Considering this work, we can start to challenge the conventional divide between fine art and craft. The skilled labor and technical expertise involved in engraving are just as worthy of appreciation.