Artwork

Chute de Staubbach, dans la Vallée de Lauterbrunnen (Falls at Staubbach in the Lauterbrunnen Valley)

Chute de Staubbach, dans la Vallée de Lauterbrunnen (Falls at Staubbach in the Lauterbrunnen Valley) is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Jean-François Janinet. It dates from 1776 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Jean‑François Janinet’s print, titled *Chute de Staubbach, dans la Vallée de Lauterbrunnen*, dates from around 1776.

About this work

Overview

Jean‑François Janinet’s print, titled *Chute de Staubbach, dans la Vallée de Lauterbrunnen*, dates from around 1776. Executed as an etching with a wash technique, the work combines blue, red, yellow and black inks to render a Swiss mountain scene. The composition captures a steep cliff, a cascading waterfall, and a modest settlement nestled at the valley’s edge.

Subject & Meaning

The image depicts the Staubbach Falls, a well‑known cascade in the Lauterbrunnen Valley of Switzerland. A village and a church appear on the lower slopes, while figures are shown laboring near the river, suggesting everyday life set against the dramatic natural landscape.

Technique & Style

Janinet employed a traditional copper‑plate etching, enhanced with a wash manner that allowed broader areas of tone. By applying multiple inks—primarily blue, green, brown, with touches of red and yellow—he achieved a sense of depth, atmospheric perspective, and texture across rock, water and foliage.

History & Provenance

Created in the late eighteenth century, the print reflects the period’s fascination with Alpine scenery and the burgeoning market for travel imagery. It is catalogued as a work by Janinet, a French printmaker active in the 1770s, and has been recorded in several collections of European prints.

Context

During the 1770s, Swiss landscapes became popular subjects for artists and collectors, driven by the Grand Tour and the Enlightenment’s interest in natural wonders. Janinet’s depiction aligns with this trend, offering a picturesque yet precise view of a celebrated waterfall for an audience eager for visual travel experiences.