The Country Dance (Small Plate)

The Country Dance (Small Plate) by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) is a significant etching executed between 1632 and 1642. This work demonstrates Lorrain’s dual mastery of painting and the graphic arts, a skill set that complemented his production of idealized classical landscapes. Classified as a print, the medium is etching, a process that allowed the artist to capture delicate detail and varying light effects. This specific impression is identified as the third state of seven (Mannocci), a technical notation that underscores Lorrain’s iterative process in developing and refining the composition on the copper plate.

The subject matter centers on a rustic, joyous scene typical of the pastoral themes Lorrain frequently explored. Groups of men and women are shown participating in a spirited dance, set within a lush, outdoor environment dominated by large, shadowing trees. While Lorrain is most famed for his grand mythological canvases, this intimate print focuses on genre elements, embedding the everyday activities of figures into an idyllic landscape setting.

Lorrain frequently utilized the print medium both for preparatory studies and to distribute refined versions of his scenes. As one of the most influential landscape artists of the Baroque era, his contributions to etchings are invaluable for tracing his compositional development. This piece exemplifies the 17th-century popularity of high-quality prints for disseminating artistic ideas. The work is held in the extensive collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, and like many works of this era, prints of the piece are often made available through public domain resources.