Gässchen mit Rückseite einer Mühle 

This watercolour, "Gässchen mit Rückseite einer Mühle," was created by Philipp Rumpf. At first glance, the composition is defined by a narrow alleyway, anchored by the stark verticality of a mill's water wheel on the left and contrasted by the cylindrical tower at the alley's end. Rumpf's delicate use of colour creates a muted atmosphere, where the buildings’ stone textures and vegetation blend almost imperceptibly. Here, we can see the artist is deeply engaged with the pictorial structure itself. The use of light and shadow isn't just descriptive, it creates a spatial depth inviting the viewer into the scene. The water acts as a mirroring plane, subtly unsettling our perception of depth, and questioning the stability of the perspectival space. The structural elements, such as the buildings and the water wheel, are depicted with a soft focus. This creates an interplay between clarity and ambiguity, typical of Rumpf's style, which destabilizes our understanding of the depicted scene.