The Watermill c. 17th century

Curator: Henri Mauperché, born in 1602, crafted this tiny etching titled "The Watermill." I find it so evocative. Editor: The contrast between the rough-hewn mill and the almost theatrical landscape creates a charming tension. Curator: Exactly! The composition, the way the light catches the rocks versus the shadowy trees. You feel the solitude. Editor: Indeed. And the cross-hatching technique gives such weight to the natural forms. The light, though, feels almost… imagined. Curator: Perhaps it is! I see a man seeking refuge there, drawn by the water's song, away from the day's noise. Editor: A refuge carefully constructed, I think, through line and tone, into an idyllic scene. Curator: I love that thought. It makes you wonder, doesn't it, what he was trying to escape? Editor: It does, and also how the formal elements contribute to the overall sense of escape.