Landscape with a hunter and his dogs

Art Historical Context

In the intimate etching *Landscape with a Hunter and Dogs*, Jonas Umbach a dynamic pastoral scene from the late 17th century. Created between 1640 and 1693, this small-scale print (just 3 3/4 x 5 5/8 inches) depicts a hunter armed with a firearm, accompanied by his loyal dogs, traversing a wooded landscape. Umbach, a German artist for his prolific output of affordable etchings, drew inspiration from the Baroque era's fascination with nature, hunting as a noble pursuit, and everyday rural life. Etching, Umbach's preferred medium, involved coating a copper plate with acid-resistant ground, scratching lines into it, and immersing it in acid to etch the grooves—allowing for delicate, expressive lines that convey texture in trees, fur, and foliage. This technique made intricate landscapes accessible to a wider audience beyond oil paintings, reflecting the growing popularity of prints in 17th-century Europe. Housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Drawings and Prints department (gift of W. G. Russell Allen, 1924), this work exemplifies Umbach's skill in blending human activity with expansive scenery, offering a window into the cultural reverence for hunting and the outdoors during a time of artistic innovation in printmaking.

About the Artist

Jonas Umbach · 1624–1693

Comment on works: Landscapes; History; Kitchen interiors; Birds