The Second Spring, from the Four Mineral Springs
c. 1630-1670
Medium
Etching on ivory laid paper
Dimensions
Sheet (trimmed): 12.3 × 16.4 cm (4 7/8 × 6 1/2 in.)
Classification
etching
Department
Prints and Drawings
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Accession Number
268069
Rights
Public Domain
Art Historical Context
Welcome to the enchanting world of 17th-century Dutch printmaking with *The Second Spring*, one of four etchings in Allaert van Everdingen'sFour Mineral Springs* series. Created around 1630-1670 this delicate work captures a serene natural spring, evoking the healing waters that drew Europeans seeking respite and cures during the Baroque era. Van Everdingen, a Dutch artist known for his rugged Scandinavian-inspired landscapes after travels to Sweden and Norway, infused his prints with a poetic sense of nature's vitality and mystery. Etched on ivory laid paper—a fine, textured support prized for its ability to hold intricate ink—this 12.3 × 16.4 cm sheet showcases van Everdingen's virtuosic technique. Etching allowed him to incise precise, fluid lines into a copper plate with acid, producing rich tonal contrasts and atmospheric depth that rivaled paintings. Prints like this were revolutionary, making high art accessible to collectors beyond the elite. Housed in the Art Institute of Chicago's Prints and Drawings department, *The Second Spring* reflects the Dutch Golden Age's fascination with topography, wellness, and the sublime landscape. Imagine visitors poring over these affordable etchings, inspired by mineral springs as symbols of renewal—timeless reminders of humanity's bond with the earth.