Artwork

Pagus Nemorosus (Wooded Village)

Pagus Nemorosus (Wooded Village), by Johannes van Doetechum the Elder, ink, 1556
Pagus Nemorosus (Wooded Village), by Johannes van Doetechum the Elder, ink, 1556

Pagus Nemorosus (Wooded Village) is an ink print by the Renaissance artist Johannes van Doetechum the Elder. It dates from 1556 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Pagus Nemorosus (Wooded Village) is a 16th-century print created by Johannes van Doetecum the Elder around 1556, utilizing etching and engraving techniques on laid paper.

Subject & Meaning

The print portrays a serene wooded village scene, complete with a church tower, winding path, farmland, and villagers tending to daily activities amidst a detailed natural setting. The depiction reflects the period's fascination with topographical and genre imagery.

Technique & Style

Characterized by fine lines, the print showcases Doetecum's meticulous attention to detail, capturing intricate textures of leaves and shadows. This level of precision was technically challenging for the era.

History & Provenance

Johannes van Doetecum the Elder, a Dutch engraver-cartographer, produced the work during his time in Deventer, before relocating to Haarlem in 1578. He often collaborated with his brother Lucas and later, his sons, in his printmaking endeavors.

Context

Pagus Nemorosus exemplifies the 16th-century Dutch interest in detailed representations of everyday life and landscapes, aligning with Doetecum's known works, including reproductions of Pieter Bruegel the Elder's genre scenes and Dutch city maps.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Johannes van Doetechum the Elder

Artist

Johannes van Doetechum the Elder

Joannes van Doetecum the Elder (1530 – 1605) was a Dutch engraver-cartographer known for his etched works after genre scenes by Pieter Bruegel the Elder and maps of various cities in the Netherlands.

This work is in the public domain (CC0). Image source: National Gallery of Art open access. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.