Riverside Scene (Old Mill) 1805 - 1810

Peter De Wint created this watercolor, Riverside Scene (Old Mill), currently housed at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, capturing a tranquil waterside moment. Notice how the watercolor medium lends itself to softness, especially in the muted tones and hazy definition of forms. De Wint masterfully contrasts textures with the rough, aged structures of the old mill standing firm against the natural fluidity of the water. The mill, which occupies much of the composition’s right side, is rendered with an eye toward the geometry inherent in architecture, as if highlighting a man-made intrusion on the natural landscape. The artist uses atmospheric perspective, softening details and muting colors in the distance to create a sense of depth. The light reflecting on the water's surface and the positioning of human figures at the lower-left provide a focal point, acting as a visual pause. The hazy sky and reflective water serve to mirror each other, enfolding the architectural forms within the landscape. The tension between natural and built environments here asks questions about our place within the landscape.