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Show firstsigned etching-Urs Graf's, Woman BathingHe Feet (1513)-was a figure study, as were also the si subjects which Diirer etched on iron shortly after :-mclJ which showa firm grasp of the medium, excep in the case of The Man of Sorrows,where the hand ling has too much the character of a pen-drawing One of these half-dozen etchings, however (Th Cannon),isalandscape-aswellasa figure-composition,and as such hasa special significance in the history of the art.For, neither in Northern Europe,wit itsidealsof imitative renderingrealized by theschoo of Goltzius, norinItaly,where Parmeggianoand th Caraccicarried onadecadent tradition of the academ icgrand manner,couldetchingcompetewith line-en graving; and it was not until the rise of a true land scape school among Dutch and Flemish artists earl in the following century, that the art of the needl really found foritself arecognized place in thesun Yetat the very moment when thisart was about t bereborn ina newworld of beautyandsignificance thereappearedin France,or rather, Lorraine-stilla independent Duchy-an etcherwhose peculiarglor is precisely his vigorous and effective rendering o the human figure in action. This artist is Jacque Callotwho,in elaborate compositions on an often mi croscopic scale,handles city or countrycrowds, peasantsorsoldiers,with consummateskill giving toeac individual his characteristic pose or gesture, full o animation and vitality, yetatthe same time leadin theexcitinglittle narrativeor dramaquite paturall Digital image © 2005 Marriott Library University of Utah, All rihts reserved |
