Two Shepherds in a Rocky Landscape

Gessner employed delicate, fine lines to render the textures of stone, grass, and fabric, achieving a nuanced surface quality. The etching’s tonal range is enhanced by the pale blue hue applied to the paper, which imparts a cool, atmospheric quality without obscuring the intricate line work.

Created in 1764, the print is an example of Gessner’s printmaking practice during the mid‑eighteenth century, a period when he produced numerous pastoral images for the European market. The work remains documented in collections of prints from that era, reflecting its circulation among connoisseurs of the time.