Gezicht op de Hainfall before 1892

This is the cover of "Das Riesengebirge. Eine Wanderung in Bildern" from E. Mertens & Cie. Dominated by a verdant green, the cover presents a structured composition blending nature and text. The textual elements, rendered in a decorative gothic script, cascade down the upper half, inviting us into a visual journey. This is framed by a slender evergreen tree on the left. The photograph of the Hainfall waterfall is bordered with an architrave, like a window through which we see an untouched wilderness. The waterfall itself contrasts against the dark rocks and forest. A branch adorned with pinecones extends across the green surface, creating a play between the flat, illustrative space and the depth of the photographic image. The semiotic interplay is striking: the green background with the photograph evoke a sense of nostalgia. The cover becomes a gateway, inviting exploration of both the natural world and the cultural history of the Riesengebirge.