Rivierlandschap met herders 1791 - 1798

J.L.L.C. Zentner created this landscape with herders using etching. The composition invites a contrast between the rugged, darker textures of the left foreground and the serene, open expanse of the river on the right. This division emphasizes a transition from the immediate, tangible world to a more distant, contemplative space. Zentner plays with scale, positioning the herders and their cattle in the middle ground to create depth. The use of light and shadow also accentuates the textures of the natural elements—the rough rocks versus the still water, which are carefully constructed to lead the viewer's eye across the scene. This constructed composition can be viewed through a structuralist lens. It reveals a controlled interplay between nature and culture. Zentner orchestrates a visual language that reflects broader attitudes toward nature. The ordered landscape suggests that nature is something to be observed and arranged.