The Country Dance (Small Plate)

"The Country Dance (Small Plate)" by Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) is a superb example of the artist's relatively rare graphic output. This print, dating from 1632-1642, was executed using the etching technique. Lorrain, best known for his luminous classical landscapes, produced only 44 etchings during his career. This particular impression is designated as the fourth state of seven, reflecting the progressive refinement and reworkings the artist made to the plate over time.

The work depicts a vibrant, idealized pastoral scene typical of the period's interest in rustic life. Figures-men and women-are gathered in a clearing surrounded by characteristic, atmospheric trees, performing a vigorous circular dance. Central to the composition are the musicians, captured playing their musical instruments to accompany the revelers. While his paintings often focused on narrative mythology, Lorrain’s prints, like this piece, frequently captured more immediate, genre-like moments of leisure and movement, filtered through his inherently classical vision of the Italian countryside.

Lorrain utilized etching to achieve a delicate balance between light and shadow, mimicking the subtle atmospheric effects he mastered in his oils. As a crucial element of his oeuvre, this print demonstrates the influence of 17th-century Roman printmakers. Today, The Country Dance (Small Plate) is classified as a masterwork of early landscape prints and is held in the permanent collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, ensuring its accessibility for study and appreciation, often available through public domain initiatives due to its age and historical significance.