666 - R. VINKELES (1741-1816), Rocky landscape with a crab, 1779, Etching

R. VINKELES (1741-1816), Rocky landscape with a crab, 1779, Etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741 Amsterdam - 1816 ibid.): Rocky landscape with a crayfish Rocky landscape with a footbridge and a crayfish, from ‘L’Ecrevisse et sa fille’, 1779, Etching Technique: Etching on Paper Impression Quality: Drawing clear lines with a beautiful, deep black tone. Inscription: lower left signed in the printing plate: "Vinkeles, del. et sculp.". At the lower part inscribed in the printing plate: "L’ECREVISSE ET SA FILLE. Fable CCXXIII.". Date: 1779 Description: A tall, rectangular print depicts an idealized rocky landscape with waterfalls and a narrow, rope-like footbridge suspended between two cliffs. On the rock on the left stand small architectural forms, including tower-like structures, surrounded by scrub. In the foreground lies a shallow stretch of water dotted with stones; in the centre is a crab, serving as a narrative reference to the caption. The sky is rendered with delicate horizontal lines and light cloud formations. Hatching is used to give the rocks, water and vegetation a nuanced texture. The composition is clearly divided into foreground, middle ground and background, combining the expansiveness of the landscape with an emblematic focus on the animal motif. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621 -1695 ) Fables choisies, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Landscape; Rock; Waterfall; Footbridge; Bridge; Crab; River; Mountains; Architecture; Tower; Vegetation; staffage; Book illustration; Fable; engraving; hatching; Riverbank; Clouds; Vignette; Title cartouche; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 20,8 cm x 13,5 cm (8,2 x 5,3 in), Depiction: 13,1 cm x 8,4 cm (5,2 x 3,3 in) Condition: Good condition. Overall, in good condition for its age and well preserved. Puncture marks from an old binding are visible on the side of the page edge. The corners of the sheet are slightly bumped. Slight browning along the edges. A few faint mould stains are visible. Slightly creased along the left-hand margin of the sheet. The bottom left-hand corner of the sheet is missing.