Ruïne aan een rivier 1830 - 1878

Johannes Pieter van Wisselingh created this etching entitled 'Ruin on a River.' The artwork shows the wear of time on a grand structure, a visual representation of the Dutch landscape and its history. Wisselingh, who lived through a period of significant social change in the Netherlands, presents us with a scene that is both picturesque and melancholic. The ruin itself speaks to the passage of time, and the figures quietly fishing bring a sense of everyday life continuing amid the echoes of the past. Consider how the choice of a ruin as a subject matter reflects a romantic sensibility but also perhaps a commentary on the impermanence of human endeavor. The tranquil river setting and the presence of ordinary people juxtapose against the grandeur of the decaying structure creating an emotional tension. It's an image that invites reflection on history, memory, and the enduring presence of the past in our present.