Rotterdam 

George Charles Aid created this etching of Rotterdam, showing a view of a waterway with a lone rower in a boat. The image presents an intersection of traditional Dutch imagery and the burgeoning industrialization of the early 20th century. Look closely, and you'll notice how Aid juxtaposes the traditional windmill, a symbol of Dutch heritage and the pre-industrial age, with the smokestacks in the distance, which represent the modern industrial era that defined much of Western society at the time. Rotterdam, as a major port city, was at the center of these changes, becoming a hub for international trade. To fully understand an image like this, it's essential to research the economic and cultural transformations occurring in the Netherlands, and in Europe more generally, during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. By doing this, we can appreciate how artists like Aid responded to their rapidly changing world.