Clump of Trees near the Water
Medium
Etching on paper
Dimensions
Image: 17.3 × 24.4 cm (6 13/16 × 9 5/8 in.); Sheet: 19.1 × 25.5 cm (7 9/16 × 10 1/16 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
108944
Rights
Public Domain
About this artwork
This etching is modeled after a painting of the same subject by the Dutch artist Jacob van Ruisdael (1628-1682). This work was owned by the Chevalier de Damery (d 1803), who probably commissioned this reinterpretation. The painting is now in the Staatliche Museen PreussischerKulturbesitz, Gemäldegaierie, Berlin.
Art Historical Context
Nestled in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints Drawings department, *Clump of Trees near the Water* (1763) is a serene etching by French artist Jean de Boissieu. Measuring just 17.3 × 24.4 cm in its image area, this intimate work on paper invites visitors to lean in and savor its subtle details—a modest sheet size that underscores the accessibility of printmaking in the 18th century. De Boiss employs the etching technique, where lines incised into a metal plate with acid create velvety textures and tonal depth when inked and printed. This method was revolutionary for landscape depictions, allowing precise rendering of natural forms like the title's clustered trees and watery edge. It reflects the era's fascination with nature's quiet poetry, bridging pastoral traditions. Created amid Europe's Enlightenment, when prints democratized art for collectors and amateurs, this piece highlights de Boissieu's skill in capturing fleeting atmospheric effects. A gem for print enthusiasts, it evokes the calm beauty of the French countryside.
About the Artist
Jean Jacques de Boissieu · 1736–1810
French, Lyons 1736–1810 Lyons