The Four Trees
1666
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1666
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
The Four Trees is a 1666 by Jan Hackaert, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This black-and-white print shows two people walking along a wooded path beside a river. Tall trees with twisted branches line the scene, their roots tangled in the water. The ground is uneven, with rocks and patches of grass. The artist paid close attention to how light and shadow play across the trees and path. The print looks like it was made by scraping away layers, leaving dark lines on a lighter background. Check out chiaroscuro to see how artists use light and dark for drama.
