Landschap bij maanlicht 1825 - 1882

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet created this etching, entitled "Landscape by Moonlight," in the Netherlands, sometime in the mid-19th century. The scene depicts a rural landscape with a mill, a cottage, and a figure in a boat, all rendered in stark contrasts of light and shadow. This imagery evokes the Romantic movement’s fascination with nature and the sublime. But it also reflects specific economic and social realities of the Netherlands at that time. The emphasis on the rural landscape can be understood as a commentary on the rise of industrialization and urbanization, and the perceived loss of traditional ways of life. Artists like Cornet helped consolidate the idea of Dutch national identity as bound up with its iconic landscapes. Understanding the artistic conventions of 19th-century Dutch art, the economic transformations underway, and the emergent sense of nationhood are all essential to grasping the cultural significance of this seemingly simple image.