Johannes van den Avelen's etching, “Cataracte Halle-Strömm Westrogothiæ”, 1705

Johannes van den Avelen (aka Johannes van den Aveelen; Johannes van den Aveele) (1655–1727)

“Cataracte Halle-Strömm Westrogothiæ” (aka “Halleström Waterfall in Västergötland” [Rijksmuseum title]), 1705, plate 56, illustration to volume three of Erik Jönssen Dahlberg’s "Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna " (Sweden Ancient and Modern)—the largest Scandinavian topographical work featuring 353 engraved plates depicting Swedish cities, landscapes and subjects of pertinent interest in three volumes, published in 1705 in Stockholm.

Etching on laid paper backed with a support sheet.

Size: (sheet) 30.4 x 19.8 cm.; (plate) 27.4 x 17 cm. (image borderline) 24.9 x 15.8 cm.

Lettered on plate above the image borderline: “CATARACTE HALLE-STRÖMM. WESTROGOTHIÆ.”

Inscribed on plate within the image borderline: (left side of the cataract) “Biörn Klewan.”

Inscribed on plate below the image borderline: (right) “I.v.d.Avelen. Sc. Holmiæ 1705.”

For a complete listing and description of all the illustrations in “Suecia Antiqua et Hodierna” see the amazing Vöbam website:

http://www.vobam.se/layout_kartografi.php?submeny=suecia

In this listing, Vöbam offers the following description of this print:  

(Transl.) “III: 56. Halleströms waterfall in Västergötland, Cataractre Halle stream Westrogothiae), copper engraving by J. vd Aveelen 1705. The image is likely to make the waterfall more significant than it really was. Next to it, a ridge, along which one could climb upwards, "Biörn Klewan" appears. At the bottom is an eating company.”

The Rijksmuseum offers a description of this print:

http://hdl.handle.net/10934/RM0001.COLLECT.645445

See also the description offered by Fine Art Museums of San Francisco:

http://art.famsf.org/johannes-van-den-aveelen/waterfall-halle-stromm-suecia-antiqua-et-hodierna-ancient-and-modern-sweden

Condition: richly-inked faultless impression with small margins (approx. 1.5 cm.). The sheet is in excellent condition (i.e. there are no tears, holes, folds, abrasions, stains or foxing) laid upon a support sheet of archival (millennium quality) washi paper.

I am selling this slightly bizarre etching featuring rocky outgrowths in the cataract/waterfall that look (to my eyes) like spiky lumps floating on the downward rush of water, for AU$197 (currently US$135,13/EUR120.92/GBP104.03 at the time of posting this print) including postage and handling to anywhere in the world (but not, of course, any import duties/taxes imposed by some countries).

If you are interested in purchasing this fascinating topographical illustration exemplifying what artists should avoid when rendering rocks in water, please contact me (oz_jim@printsandprinciples.com) and I will send you a PayPal invoice to make the payment easy.