The Two Landscapes

The Two Landscapes by Claude Lorrain French, 1600-1682, is a remarkable early example of the artist’s mastery in printmaking. Executed between 1625 and 1635, this piece is an etching rendered on ivory laid paper. Although Lorrain is internationally recognized for his luminous and idealized Roman landscapes painted in oil, he was also a dedicated and innovative printmaker throughout his career, often revisiting classical or pastoral themes in his works on paper. This print is classified as one of his earlier ventures into the medium, demonstrating the burgeoning 17th-century interest in landscape as a distinct subject in its own right.

The technique of etching allowed Lorrain to achieve a delicate, intricate handling of line, particularly visible in the finely drawn foliage and atmospheric effects that define his signature style. Although Lorrain spent the majority of his professional life working in Rome, his fundamental artistic identity remains linked to the culture of France, bringing a distinctly Northern European sensibility to his Italianate scenery. This work, embodying the classical Baroque landscape tradition, captures two distinct but harmonious scenes, likely intended to be viewed as a unified meditation on nature and light.

As a significant example of French prints from the era, this work highlights the diffusion of the Classical style across Europe. The detailed execution of The Two Landscapes ensured its longevity and influence on subsequent generations of printmakers. Lorrain’s extensive catalog of graphic works made his compositions widely accessible, long before the invention of modern art reproduction methods, contributing valuable imagery to the public domain of classical landscape reference. Today, this important print resides within the permanent collection of the Art Institute of Chicago.