644 - R. VINKELES (1741–1816), The Hare and the Tortoise, 1769, Etching

R. VINKELES (1741–1816), The Hare and the Tortoise, 1769, Etching Reinier Vinkeles (1741, Amsterdam – 1816, ibid.): The Hare and the Tortoise *Le Lièvre et la Tortuë* set against a backdrop of architectural ruins, Fable CXIII, 1769, Etching Technique: Etching on paper Print Quality: An absolutely superb, harmonious print with crisp lines and well-balanced black tones. Inscription: Signed in the printing plate at the lower left: “Vinkeles, del. et sculp.” At the bottom, inscribed in the printing plate: “LE LIEVRE ET LA TORTUË. Fable CXIII.” Date: 1769 Description: A hare sits in the foreground on a light-colored background; to the right, a tortoise crawls among stones and grass. Behind it rises a ruined building featuring arches, high walls, a gabled house, and a round tower with a pointed roof. Another arch opens up the background to the right. The sky is vast and evenly hatched. The composition clearly layers the group of animals, the ruined building, and the distance. The etching employs delicate parallel hatching, concentrated areas of darkness, and nuanced chiaroscuro modeling. The animals serve as the narrative protagonists of a fable; the contrast between speed and slowness is conveyed with iconographic precision within the image. Source: Jean de la Fontaine (1621–1695) *Fables choisies*, 1802 | Book, Mythology, Genre, Fashion Keywords: Hare; Tortoise; Fable; Ruins; Tower; Architecture; Arch; Landscape; Foreground; Animals; Illustration; Book illustration; Etching; Hatching; Sky; Grass; Stones; La Fontaine; Narrative illustration; 18th century; Classicism; Genre; France; Size: Paper: 19.6 cm x 13.2 cm (7.7 x 5.2 in), Image: 12.9 cm x 8.2 cm (5.1 x 3.2 in) Condition: Good condition. The sheet is slightly yellowed overall, with a few small spots caused by mold and age, marginal wear, a crease in the upper right-hand corner, as well as slight signs of wear and minor irregularities along the edges.