A Waterfall in Switzerland (near Lausanne?) with a Resting Wayfarer 1655

Jan Hackaert rendered this Swiss landscape with pen and brown ink, accented by brown and gray wash. These materials, common in the 17th century, allowed the artist to capture the scene's tonal gradations and textures. The use of pen and wash, while traditional, isn't just about depicting reality. Hackaert employs the techniques to emphasize the artificiality of the waterfall. The landscape is defined not only by nature but also by human intervention. The waterfall's structure, rendered with precise lines, resembles a constructed dam rather than a natural formation. This tension reflects the changing relationship between humanity and nature during the period, anticipating our own moment of ecological reckoning. Hackaert masterfully intertwines the tradition of landscape art with observations about labor, infrastructure, and the transformation of the natural world. The contrast between the wildness of the landscape and the man-made structure of the waterfall invites us to consider the environmental impact of human activity, even centuries ago.