Watermolen in Optevoz 1870

Emile Louis Vernier created this print called Watermolen in Optevoz. Looking at this landscape, consider the late 19th century, a time of massive industrial change. Vernier seems to be turning away from the allure of urban centers to focus on the beauty and simplicity of rural life. It is a move that both acknowledges and resists an era of mechanization. Vernier focuses on the mill, a symbol of localized industry and the natural resources needed to power it. How might the artist have felt about these kinds of structures? Vernier captures a moment in time, where humans and nature exist side by side. The soft light and peaceful setting evoke nostalgia, a longing for a way of life that was already beginning to fade. In this quiet moment, Vernier invites us to contemplate our relationship with progress and the emotional ties we have to the places we call home.