Molen en een grazende koe aan een waterkant 1876 - 1877

Willem Cornelis Rip sketched "Molen en een grazende koe aan een waterkant" with graphite on paper, capturing a serene waterside scene. Rip, born in Rotterdam in 1856, paints here a quintessentially Dutch landscape, one deeply rooted in the nation's identity and agricultural heritage. However, this idyllic image also hints at the complex relationship between the Dutch and their land. The meticulous management of the landscape reflects a cultural drive to control nature, an ambition with deep historical roots in the country's ongoing battle against the sea. The figures in the boat suggest a society where labor and leisure intersect, where people engage directly with their environment for both work and pleasure. The cow, a common symbol of rural life, is here rendered as an integral part of the pastoral scene, blurring the boundaries between human activity and the natural world. Rip invites us to reflect on how our surroundings shape not just our physical existence, but also our cultural values and sense of belonging.