Gezicht op de Pont de Thiele bij het Lac de Neuchâtel 1782

Johann Ludwig Aberli created this view of the Pont de Thiele at Lake Neuchâtel using pen and watercolor. Notice how the architecture’s dark, sturdy forms contrast with the soft, natural elements. The bridge cuts a sharp horizontal line across the gentle curves of the landscape. Aberli's technique evokes the picturesque aesthetic, balancing both order and wildness. The detailed rendering of the bridge’s structure, set against the misty background, brings clarity and form to the scene. This interplay can be seen as a reflection of Enlightenment ideals, where nature and reason were to be balanced. Aberli's emphasis on structure amidst nature anticipates later debates on landscape’s role in art, and how constructed forms might fit or clash with their settings. This view asks us to consider how built environments interact with their natural backdrop, raising questions about harmony, control, and our place within the landscape.