Plate 2: a peasant woman herds two cows across a stream, walking towards the left, from 'Diversi capricci' 1644 - 1647

Stefano della Bella created this etching, "Plate 2," as part of 'Diversi capricci', printed on paper. The composition immediately draws your eye across the stream where a peasant woman herds two cows. Note the delicate balance achieved through the use of line and form. Della Bella masterfully employs etching to create depth. The stark contrast between the light sky and the densely etched trees establishes a clear spatial hierarchy. The figures, rendered with precise lines, are solid against the fluid reflections in the water. The woman’s draped clothing is drawn with attention to the way it falls and folds, adding a classical note to the otherwise rustic scene. Notice how the trees on the right and left create a kind of frame, drawing our eye towards the center. This subtle framing emphasizes the relationship between humanity and nature, presented here not as adversaries, but as elements intertwined. Consider this formal structuring as part of an intellectual discourse which questions our place within a pastoral landscape. Is this a statement about the natural order, or an early questioning of humanity’s impact on the environment? The composition invites a sense of contemplation.