Wooded Region

Wooded Region features a classic landscape view of 16th century Belgium. It's creator was Pieter Bruegel the Elder who would become the first contributor to an artistic family dynasty.

The Large Landscapes was a series of designs from Bruegel that would later become printed artworks that were to be sold far and wide. It would offer him the opportunity to spread his artistic brand further afield as well as bringing in some additional income that could help to keep his growing studio in operation. Within this scene, there is a tall spire that reaches into the air, initially grabbing your attention as intended. We then find huge numbers of trees and bushes that fill this composition from top to bottom. There is a tall tree in the foreground which helps to vary size and provide a feeling of perspective.

The artist would pass on these works to allow the construction of engravings by specialised members of his team. At this stage in Flemish art, engraving was common and also a highly respected art form. It would not have been hard for him to locate world class engravers pretty much on his doorstep and so there was no reason to learn these techniques himself. After this, things would pass to Hieronymus Coch who was the designated printmaker for this project - he was living in Antwerp at the time and was highly experienced in this sort of work.

Those wishing to see some of the original prints and etching blocks maybe able to locate them within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, US. They will display them from time to time but it should never be assumed as they have a colossal collection which cannot all be on show at the same time, as there simply is not the capacity to do so. They will be loaned out from time to time, with the artist retaining a strong popularity with his native Europe, all these years later. Those with wider tastes in art history will be interested in the institution's collection of Michelangelo paintings, as well as a number of other members of the Northern Renaissance.