Cows grazing on outer marches, from a series River landscapes

Although the noted landscape painter Jan van Goyen himself probably did not pursue graphic art, a collection of his drawings served as a model for etchings produced by the prominent engraver Jan Visscher. The series is a faithful reinterpretation of van Goyen’s landscapes, done in subdued tones, showing a high, cloudy sky penetrated by a sharp counterlight that transforms most of the figures into dark silhouettes. The contrasts of light and dark provide the finished scenes with a distinctive texture, evoking a dramatic mood.