Gezicht op de Biesbosch en de Noordendijk bij Dordrecht 1770 - 1808

This is Simon Fokke's "Gezicht op de Biesbosch en de Noordendijk bij Dordrecht," an engraving on paper. Immediately, the eye is drawn to the composition, with the horizon line neatly bisecting the picture plane. Below this, the stillness of the water acts as a mirror, reflecting the detailed townscape and sky, creating a symmetrical structure. The clouds loom large, softened by the tonal gradations achieved by the hatching in the engraving. Consider the verticality of the windmills against the horizontal stretch of the land. The sailboats, meticulously rendered, introduce a dynamic sense of scale, and their reflections soften the composition with their imperfect mirroring, which gives a sense of depth. The artist destabilizes the notion of the landscape as a purely natural scene. This engraving acts as a symbol of Dutch ingenuity, where nature is harnessed and culture and industry are built into the land.