The Towpath, from Cahier de six eaux-fortes, vues de Hollande 1862

Johan Barthold Jongkind made this etching, titled 'The Towpath,' as part of a series of six views of Holland. These works reflect a 19th-century fascination with the Dutch landscape. The image evokes a sense of rural life centered around waterways and windmills. We see how the geography of the Netherlands shaped its economic and social life. Windmills, of course, were crucial for land reclamation and industry. Here, it is a picturesque backdrop to the daily activities of people and animals. As a historian, I would look at Dutch prints from this period. This would help me to understand the market for such images, and the visual codes that would have resonated with Jongkind's audience. This image speaks to a particular vision of Dutch identity. The image is rooted in an agrarian past that was rapidly changing due to industrialization.