Landschap met trekschuit en molen op de achtergrond 1833 - 1879

Auguste Numans created this landscape with a towboat and mill in the background using etching, a process that allows for detailed line work and tonal variation. As an artist in the 19th century Netherlands, Numans worked in a period where Dutch identity was often expressed through idealized landscapes. These landscapes often spoke to ideas of national pride and connection to the land. The towboat and the windmill represent Dutch ingenuity and their intimate relationship to the waterways and land. However, these images frequently ignore the working conditions of the laborers who operated these vessels and mills. Absent from these picturesque scenes are the people who toiled in these environments. The serene depiction thus invites reflection on what is included and what is notably left out of these idealized visions of Dutch society.