Bezoekers bij een waterval 1751 - 1822

'Visitors by a waterfall' is an etching made by Noach van der Meer II sometime between 1741 and 1822. During this period, the Dutch Republic was experiencing economic decline, but also a growing interest in Enlightenment ideals. This etching presents an imagined vision of the Dutch landscape. We see an almost theatrical display of nature with visitors in the scene. Two well-dressed men contemplate the view, while another group arrives in a horse-drawn carriage. This idealized portrayal of nature catered to the tastes of the wealthy merchant class. It served as a form of escapism amidst the realities of urban life and social change. The artist seems to be asking in the lower text, ‘What wisdom of nature is this?’ The etching invites us to reflect on our relationship with the natural world. It prompts us to consider how our social and economic circumstances shape our perceptions, desires, and representations of nature.