Rock section by the water 

Jacob van Ruisdael created this ink drawing, “Rock section by the water”, during the Dutch Golden Age, a time when the Netherlands experienced unprecedented economic, scientific, and artistic growth. Ruisdael specialized in landscapes, capturing the natural world with remarkable detail and emotional depth. He was working in a society in which land was not just terrain, but property, and a commodity. While seemingly objective, his landscapes often evoke a sense of the sublime, reflecting a deep connection to nature that transcends mere representation. What does it mean to be at one with nature, when nature itself is being bought and sold? The interplay of light and shadow across the rocks, combined with the tranquil water, invites a moment of contemplation. In a world rapidly changing due to mercantilism, Ruisdael's landscapes offered viewers a space to reflect on their relationship with the land, and perhaps, to question the cost of progress.