Winter

Description

Clouds hang over a restless coastal landscape in Winter, Jean Audran’s engraving after Nicolas Poussin. A sailboat occupies the left, while groups of figures gather along the shore to the right. Rocks and water complicate the passage between them, giving the view a feeling of uncertainty rather than tranquil seasonal scenery. The image holds attention through the contrast between the broad landscape and the smaller human activities within it.

Audran translates Poussin’s design into engraved lines, using their density to separate shadow, atmosphere and distant space. This is a print after the painter’s composition, not an original painting by Poussin. The monochrome treatment makes the movement of cloud, water and figures depend on changing textures. Its seasonal title leaves room for the mood of the scene, where nature’s unsettled character matters more than a literal display of snow or ice.

Read our guide to giclée prints or browse the Nicolas Poussin collection.