Artwork
Flower Print no.8
Flower Print no.8 is an ink print by the Baroque artist Nicolas Cochin. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Flower Print no.
About this work
Overview
Flower Print no.8 is an etching executed by the French artist Nicolas Cochin in 1645. The work presents a linear arrangement of six distinct blossoms, each rendered with precise contours and intricate foliage. Beneath the floral band, a compact narrative scene unfolds, depicting mounted soldiers, naval vessels, and a plume of smoke, confined to a narrow lower register.
Subject & Meaning
The composition juxtaposes natural beauty with a fleeting glimpse of conflict, suggesting a contrast between the serenity of cultivated flora and the turbulence of human warfare. The six flowers dominate the visual field, while the battle tableau, reduced to a slim strip, functions as a subtle commentary on the coexistence of peace and violence within the same plane.
Technique & Style
The resulting fine lines capture the delicate structure of petals and leaves, while the deeper grooves convey the darker masses of the battle scene.
Cochin employed the traditional etching process, incising lines into a copper plate with acid-resistant ground before immersing the plate in acid to bite the exposed metal. The resulting fine lines capture the delicate structure of petals and leaves, while the deeper grooves convey the darker masses of the battle scene. The print’s crisp linearity reflects the artist’s mastery of the medium’s capacity for detail.
History & Provenance
Created in the mid‑17th century, Flower Print no.8 belongs to Cochin’s series of botanical and genre studies produced for the French court. Although specific ownership records are scarce, the print has been documented in several European collections of prints and drawings, indicating its circulation among connoisseurs of the period.
Artist & collection
