Rembrandt (1606-1669)
The Three Trees
1643
Etching and drypoint, 21.1 x 27.8 cm
Petit Palais, Paris
Dominating the entire Dutch Golden age with his very strong artistic personality, Rembrandt has left not only a large number of paintings and drawings but also almost 300 etchings. He painted portraits with the same skill as he did imaginary figures as well as biblical, mythological and historical subjects, allegories, genre scenes and landscapes.
In the latter field, it was indisputably Rembrandt who most brilliantly captured the specific feel of Dutch countryside, composed of vast light filled plains interspersed with peaceful hamlets, modest farmhouses or the sails of a windmill.
This impressive engraving is an exceptional piece in Rembrandt’s graphic work. It has features similar to the landscapes painted by the artist: spectacular, shot through with powerful contrasts of light and brought to life with ruins or wild waterfalls. Here, a storm cloud looming over three oak trees with rustling foliage creates a dramatic light and shade effect over the whole plain. The black gashing rain, the stormy, swirling clouds and the bright, ephemeral glow of the light in the sky compose an authentic visual symphony, which most closely corresponds to Romantic music. (Petit Palais)