Landschap met watermolen 1583 - 1645

Editor: This is Jacob van der Heyden’s "Landscape with Watermill," dating sometime between 1583 and 1645. It's an engraving, and there's something very rustic, almost humble, about it. What do you see in this piece? Curator: What strikes me is the interplay between nature and industry, seen through the labour embodied in the watermill. The means of production are presented front and centre, aren’t they? It prompts questions about resource management and even the commodification of the landscape. What kind of economic relations does the presence of this mill imply, do you think? Editor: I suppose it shows the way people are beginning to exert control over their environment…to harness natural resources for profit. Is the focus on the mill as a workplace significant for art of this period? Curator: Absolutely. Prior, landscapes often served as a backdrop. Here, the watermill dominates. I am drawn to think that this may represent an increased focus on the common person's labour and how industry was becoming more integral to society. The artist is concerned less with portraying the wealthy but showcasing more working aspects of society. Editor: That's interesting, I had not thought about the focus on a scene of labour, the making-of-things by working class as central! I was mainly just observing the pretty setting. Thank you for your insights. Curator: And thank you, you have prompted me to view this print with fresh eyes, noticing the interplay between exploitation and appreciation.