Various landscapes. Plate 4. The leaning tree next to a pond.

Besides the Swiss topographical drawings, Hackaert made several other drawings. These drawings are sketchier, broader and lighter in execution than his topographical work. He would sketch miners at work in the mountains and often had complaints laid against him from disturbed and disgruntled miners, who believed he was either a spy or casting spells on them. Hackaert’s forest landscapes with hunting scenes show more originality than his Italianate landscapes and were very popular on the contemporary art market. His latest signed work dates from 1685 in which year, or soon after, he is assumed to have died.

Hackaert’s paintings may be broadly divided into two categories: Italianate landscapes and woodland scenes. Te Papa currently has seven etchings by Hackaert in its collection. This print is Plate 4 from the series of six entitled Various landscapes. Te Papa owns a complete set, which was part of the collection of Old Master prints presented to the Colonial Museum by Bishop Ditlev Monrad in 1869. This etching depicts a crooked tree which hangs precariously over a glistening river, which in turn reflects the surrounding trees and sky. Upon a hill, to the upper left, a figure, fishing rod in hand, heads to the river. Along the bank of the river are a number of trees and bushes, which continue into the distance.