Landschap met waterval 1597 - 1600

Hendrick Goltzius created this small landscape with a waterfall using pen and brown ink. The image is dominated by a contrast between the rough, dark rocks in the foreground and the delicate, feathery details of the trees and distant mountains. Goltzius masterfully manipulates line and texture. Notice how the dense cross-hatching on the rocks gives them a sense of weight and solidity, while the light, quick strokes used for the foliage create a feeling of movement and airiness. The composition is carefully structured, leading your eye from the lower left corner, up and into the distance, punctuated by the waterfall and the mill. This piece isn't just a representation of nature; it’s a study in contrasts – light and dark, rough and smooth, near and far. Goltzius is inviting us to consider how these formal elements work together to create a dynamic and engaging visual experience, reflecting the broader intellectual interest in structure and order of the natural world during the late 16th century.