Zicht op de Rotte met een roeiboot en molens 1876 - 1910

Alphonse Stengelin made this piece, "Zicht op de Rotte met een roeiboot en molens," using etching techniques. Born in the mid-19th century, Stengelin lived in a time of vast industrial expansion, even as rural communities maintained traditional ways of life. The artwork captures a serene waterside scene, likely a quiet respite on the Rotte river. The eye is drawn to the small rowboat resting near the bank, with windmills softly placed in the background. These windmills were crucial to land drainage and representative of Dutch innovation. The quiet, calm waters evoke a strong sense of place and heritage. However, this idealized image perhaps overlooks the labor and changing social dynamics brought about by the Industrial Revolution. Stengelin’s tranquil landscape is more than a pretty picture; it’s a reminder of simpler times and the human connection to the land. There is a quiet beauty here, a connection to place, and a deep well of cultural memory.