Artwork
Landscape with Duck Hunters
Landscape with Duck Hunters is an ink print by the Baroque artist Jean Morin. It dates from 1601 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Jean Morin’s 1601 print, *Landscape with Duck Hunters*, is an etching executed on laid paper. The work presents a wooded riverside scene where two figures are engaged in duck hunting, one kneeling with a gun and the other standing with a dog, while water mirrors the surrounding trees.
Subject & Meaning
The composition captures a moment of rural sport, emphasizing the interaction between humans, animals, and nature. The hunters’ posture and the presence of the dog suggest a narrative of pursuit and observation, while the tranquil pond and dense foliage frame the activity within a natural setting.
Technique & Style
Morin combines fine etched lines with deeper engraved shadows, creating texture and depth in the foliage and water reflections. The use of both etching and engraving on a single plate was a technical innovation of his, allowing for delicate detail alongside bold tonal contrasts typical of early 17th‑century printmaking.
History & Provenance
A French artist active in the Baroque era, Morin worked as a printmaker, publisher, and painter. *Landscape with Duck Hunters* exemplifies his dual role as creator and disseminator of prints, and the plate’s technique influenced subsequent printmakers who adopted the mixed etching‑engraving method.
Context
The image reflects the popularity of hunting scenes in early modern European art, where such subjects served both decorative and documentary purposes. Morin’s treatment aligns with contemporary trends that favored naturalistic detail and the portrayal of everyday leisure activities.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jean Morin (c.1595 or 1605 – 1650) was a French baroque painter, printmaker, painter, etcher, engraver and publisher.
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