641 - R. VINKELES (1741–1816), Bird Catcher with a Net, 1769, etching

R. VINKELES (1741–1816), Bird Catcher with a Net, 1769, etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741 Amsterdam – 1816 ibid.): A Bird Catcher with a Net. The bird catcher with a Eurasian hobby and a lark in a riverside landscape, 1769, etching Technique: Etching on paper Print Quality: An absolutely superb, harmonious print, with delicate, clear detail and well-balanced black levels. Inscription: Signed in the printing plate at the lower left: "Vinkeles, del. et sculp.". At the bottom, inscribed on the printing plate: "L’OISELEUR, L’AUTOUR ET L’ALOUËTTE. Fable CXVIII.". Date: 1769 Description: A boy is kneeling in the foreground on a bird trap spread out on the ground, reaching for two captured birds—presumably a bird of prey and a lark. Next to him lie a cage and a bird-calling instrument. His body is turned toward the right, his gaze fixed intently on the scene. The scene is set in a riverside landscape featuring a rocky bank, trees, and a small building in the distance. Delicate parallel lines and dense hatching render the ground, foliage, and sky. Chiaroscuro contrasts give the foreground a dense quality, while the background appears atmospheric. The narrative structure combines an idyllic landscape with a moralizing fable. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621–1695) *Fables choisies*, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Boy; Bird-catcher; Bird-trap; Net; Birds; Lark; Bird of prey; Cage; Riverbank; Landscape; Tree; Rock; Building; Fable illustration; Book illustration; Hatching; Foreground scene; Moral; Natural setting; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19.6 cm x 12.6 cm (7.7 x 5 in), Illustration: 12.9 cm x 8.1 cm (5.1 x 3.2 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 sheets are slightly bumped. There is some browning along the edges. A few faint mold stains are visible.