Preview AR preview Buy Hand Made Painting Switch to Digital Image Send
Details Guide Add to favorites Download Similars X-Ray Diaporama Stats

Two Trees

Explore Hercules Seghers' masterpiece 'Two Trees,' a stunning baroque etching depicting two majestic trees against a serene blue sky, housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam.

Discover Hercules Seghers (1590-1638), the Dutch Golden Age painter & printmaker! Explore his innovative landscapes, experimental techniques & unique artistic vision.

Giclée / Art Print

Museum-quality giclée or canvas print with fast production and flexible finish options. ( Buy Hand Made Painting Switch to Digital Image)

Corner sample of the P118B picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118B $10
Corner sample of the P118H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118H $10
Corner sample of the P118W picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P118W $10
Corner sample of the P438Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P438Z $10
Corner sample of the P508JH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P508JH $12
Corner sample of the P508YH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P508YH $12
Corner sample of the P805H picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P805H $10
Corner sample of the P805Z picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P805Z $10
Corner sample of the P919BZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919BZ $10
Corner sample of the P919G picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919G $10
Corner sample of the P919XJ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 7 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
P919XJ $10
Corner sample of the P959ZH picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
P959ZH $10
Corner sample of the P968JZ picture frame: moulded polystyrene, 6 cm wide and 4 cm thick
P968JZ $12
Corner sample of the W106C picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W106C $8
Corner sample of the W218G picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218G $10
Corner sample of the W218JH picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218JH $8
Corner sample of the W218Y picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W218Y $10
Corner sample of the W307PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W307PJ $10
Corner sample of the W316G picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316G $10
Corner sample of the W316PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316PJ $8
Corner sample of the W316Y picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W316Y $10
Corner sample of the W398PJ picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W398PJ $8
Corner sample of the W4111J picture frame: solid wood, 6.5 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
W4111J $10
Corner sample of the W500HY picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
W500HY $15
Corner sample of the W500JH picture frame: solid wood, 7 cm wide and 5 cm thick
W500JH $15
Corner sample of the W692G picture frame: solid wood, 8 cm wide and 4 cm thick
W692G $12
Corner sample of the W849H picture frame: solid wood, 5 cm wide and 3 cm thick
W849H $8
Corner sample of the W940BG picture frame: solid wood, 7.5 cm wide and 4.5 cm thick
W940BG $15
Corner sample of the W953PJ picture frame: solid wood, 6 cm wide and 3.5 cm thick
W953PJ $8

Standard
custom
CM
INCH

Pick from our preset sizes that match the artwork's original proportions.

width
height

Type the width and the height you need, to fit your frame or your wall. A print can only be cut, never made bigger than the picture, so a size with a different shape loses a part of the image. We send you a digital mockup to approve before we print anything. The picture shown on this page does not show the real cut — only the mockup does.

Worldwide Delivery () in 2 weeks instead of standard 4/5 weeks. (22 October)

Free Worldwide Express Shipping
High-Quality Linen Canvas
Full Shipping Insurance
Customs Tax Refund Guarantee
True Color Matching Guarantee
100-Day Return Policy (Defects Only)
100% Money-Back Guarantee
Bulk Discount Offer

Total Price

$ 69

Two Trees

Giclée / Art Print

Reproduction Size

-

Total Price

$ 69

Quick Facts

  • Year: 1625
  • Notable elements or techniques: Innovative printmaking
  • Location: Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam
  • Subject or theme: Trees and Woods
  • Dimensions: 155 x 173 cm
  • Artistic style: Landscape

Art Quiz

There is only one correct answer for each question.

Question 1:
What artistic movement is Hercules Seghers’s ‘Two Trees’ associated with?
Question 2:
Where is the painting 'Two Trees' currently housed?
Question 3:
What technique did Hercules Seghers primarily employ in creating this artwork?
Question 4:
The etching 'Two Trees' exemplifies a characteristic feature of landscape painting during the Golden Age of Dutch Art. What is that feature?
Question 5:
Who was Hercules Seghers’s influential teacher in landscape painting?

Hercules Seghers’ Two Trees: A Vision of Tranquility Amidst Alpine Majesty

Hercules Pieterszoon Seghers (1590 – c. 1638) stands as a singular figure in the Dutch Golden Age landscape tradition, celebrated for his audacious experimentation with printmaking and his ability to capture the sublime beauty of mountainous vistas. “Two Trees,” created around 1625, exemplifies this distinctive approach—a masterful etching that transcends mere depiction to convey an atmosphere of profound serenity and spiritual contemplation.

The artwork presents a meticulously rendered scene featuring two trees positioned prominently in the center of the composition. One tree is mature and robust, its branches laden with dense foliage, while the other is younger, displaying delicate twigs emerging from the trunk—a subtle gesture hinting at regeneration and resilience. The trees are set against a backdrop of towering alpine peaks bathed in soft, diffused light, creating an illusion of depth that draws the viewer’s eye upwards into the expansive sky.

Seghers' technique is remarkable for its departure from conventional methods. Unlike many artists of his time who relied solely on black ink to achieve tonal effects, Seghers skillfully employed a combination of etching and aquatint—a process involving multiple plates inked with varying degrees of opacity—to produce nuanced gradations of color. The use of azurite and precipitated yellow lake pigments lends the image an ethereal quality, capturing the subtle hues of twilight and enhancing the overall impression of grandeur.

The etching’s historical context is crucial to understanding its significance. Produced during a period marked by intellectual ferment and artistic innovation—the Baroque era—“Two Trees” reflects the burgeoning interest in exploring themes of spirituality and contemplation within the natural world. Seghers' inspiration drew heavily from Flemish landscape painters like Abraham van Ouhibbee, who had pioneered the depiction of dramatic mountainscapes infused with religious symbolism.

More than just a visual representation of scenery, “Two Trees” embodies a philosophical stance rooted in humanist ideals. The tree imagery—particularly the young sapling—represents hope and renewal, mirroring the broader humanist preoccupation with the cyclical nature of life and the enduring power of beauty to uplift the human spirit. Its placement against the majestic Alps underscores the grandeur of God’s creation and invites viewers to contemplate the sublime.

Currently housed at the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam, “Two Trees” remains a testament to Seghers' artistic genius—a timeless masterpiece that continues to inspire admiration for its technical virtuosity and emotional resonance. It serves as an enduring reminder of the Dutch Golden Age’s fascination with capturing the sublime beauty of nature and conveying profound spiritual truths.

Questions & Answers

What saturation and intensity does "Two Trees" by Hercules Seghers show?

The color of "Two Trees" is balanced soft in saturation and vivid in intensity.

What is "Two Trees" made with, and in which style?

"Two Trees" is made in etching, in the Baroque style.

Can I see "Two Trees" by Hercules Seghers under different lights?

The X-Ray view of "Two Trees" by Hercules Seghers is on the artwork's X-Ray page: an interactive examination of the image through eleven optical layers.


Artist Biography

Hercules Seghers: A Life in Landscape and Print

  • Born: Haarlem, Netherlands (c. 1590)
  • Died: c. 1638

Early Life and Training

  • Hercules Pieterszoon Seghers was born in Haarlem, the son of a Mennonite cloth merchant originally from Flanders.
  • In 1596, his family moved to Amsterdam.
  • He was apprenticed to Gillis van Coninxloo, a leading Flemish landscapist, but this apprenticeship was cut short by Coninxloo's death in 1606. Seghers and his father acquired several of Coninxloo’s works after the artist passed away.
  • Following his father's death in 1612, he returned to Haarlem and joined the Haarlem Guild of St. Luke.

Artistic Development and Style

  • Seghers is recognized as "the most inspired, experimental and original landscapist" of his period, particularly noted for his innovative printmaking techniques.
  • His paintings often feature fantastic mountainous compositions with a wide horizontal view, emphasizing earth over sky.
  • He experimented extensively with etching, using drypoint, aquatint (including the "sugar-bite" technique), and other methods to create unique textural effects.
  • Seghers’s prints are characterized by their use of colored paper or cloth, colored inks, and hand-coloring, often resulting in miniature paintings.
  • His style shows influence from earlier artists like Joos de Momper and Gillis van Coninxloo.

Major Achievements and Innovations

  • Innovative Printmaking: Seghers’s most significant contribution lies in his experimental printmaking techniques, particularly the sugar-bite aquatint. This technique was later rediscovered in England.
  • Unique Landscapes: His landscapes are characterized by their starkness, originality, and often otherworldly quality. He depicted rocky formations resembling alien terrain.
  • Influence on Rembrandt: Rembrandt collected Seghers’s works and reworked elements from his paintings and etchings into his own compositions, demonstrating the significant impact of Seghers' style.
  • Diverse Impressions: Unlike many printmakers of his time, Seghers produced multiple impressions of each plate, varying their color schemes and adding hand-coloring to create unique artworks.

Historical Significance

  • Seghers’s work was highly regarded during his lifetime, though he faced financial difficulties later in life.
  • Samuel van Hoogstraten's *Inleyding tot de hooge schoole der schilderkonst* romanticized Seghers as a misunderstood genius, contributing to his posthumous reputation.
  • He is considered a pioneer of landscape printmaking and an important figure in the Dutch Golden Age, known for his experimental techniques and unique artistic vision.
  • His influence can be seen in later artists who adopted his innovative printing methods and appreciated his distinctive style.
Hercules Seghers

Hercules Seghers

1590 - 1638 , Netherlands

Quick Facts

  • Full Name: Hercules Pieterszoon Seghers
  • Nationality: Dutch
  • Date Of Birth: 1590
  • Date Of Death: 1638
  • Place Of Birth: Haarlem, Netherlands
  • Notable Artworks:
    • Mountainous Landscape
    • Mountain Valley with Fenced Fields
    • The Great Tree
  • Artistic Movement Or Style: Dutch Golden Age
  • Artists Who Influenced This Artist:
    • Gillis van Coninxloo
    • Joos de Momper
  • Artists Or Movements Influenced By This Artist: ['Rembrandt']
Explore artworks organized by themes, styles, and characteristics.