The Vision

The Vision is a seminal print created by the French Baroque master Claude Lorrain (Claude Gellée) between 1625 and 1635. This work is an etching, demonstrating Lorrain’s early, precise engagement with the printmaking medium. Notably, this impression is identified by scholars as the rare first state of five (Mannocci), making it a crucial reference point for tracking the evolution of the plate before it was finalized for wider circulation. Lorrain, who established his career in Rome, became the defining figure for the idealized and pastoral landscapes of the seventeenth century, a tradition that continued long after his death.

While the artist is internationally renowned for his luminous oil paintings, Lorrain’s significant skill as a printmaker allowed him to widely disseminate his compositional ideas, influencing generations of artists, particularly those focused on the genre of landscapes. Although the title suggests a narrative or mythological element, the primary focus of this piece remains the masterful arrangement of atmospheric perspective and natural elements framed by dark foreground trees. The careful distribution of light and shadow, typical of his mature style, is already evident in the handling of the etched line across the plate.

This specific impression of Lorrain’s The Vision is classified among the essential early prints held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The detail achieved through the etching process highlights the artist’s transition from draftsman to established painter of evocative scenes. As one of the earliest known states, this print represents an important technical and stylistic achievement. Today, high-resolution images of such historic public domain prints are often available for study, allowing scholars and enthusiasts broader access to Lorrain's comprehensive artistic output beyond his monumental canvases.