Rivierlandschap met gezicht op Rhenen 1625 - 1677

Wenceslaus Hollar created this River Landscape with a View of Rhenen using etching techniques. The composition is distinctly divided into three horizontal bands. The foreground shows an elevated land mass, intricately detailed with cross-hatching to denote texture and depth. The middle ground features the town of Rhenen, punctuated by the dominant verticality of its church tower, balanced by sailing boats on the river, which introduces dynamism. Finally, the background fades into a lighter tone, suggesting atmospheric perspective, and the sky is left relatively empty. This approach divides the composition into distinct, readable signs. The landscape elements are not merely representational but work together to structure our reading of the image. The clear lines and structured layout invite us to consider how Hollar uses form to create a sense of place, but also to engage with broader concepts of space and representation.