Gezicht op Wageningen 1858

"Gezicht op Wageningen" or "View of Wageningen", was created by Johann Gabriel Friedrich Poppel using etching and burin. This monochrome image captures a landscape with the city of Wageningen in the distance. Poppel’s artistic practice reflects the cultural values of 19th-century Europe, where the pastoral was idealized, yet industrial progress was already underway. The artist emphasizes the windmills, while two figures are casually placed, possibly to invite us into the scene. The architecture of Wageningen, dominated by a church spire, suggests a community rooted in tradition and faith. The lack of specificity regarding the time the work was made allows us to consider the changes in cultural identity and landscape across time. This print isn't merely a depiction of a place; it invites us to reflect on the relationship between community, progress and our sense of place. It’s an image that encourages us to consider how we shape and are shaped by the spaces we inhabit.