Rivier met waterval 1756 - 1817

Louis Bernard Coclers created this etching, Rivier met waterval, or River with Waterfall, around the turn of the 19th century, a time of great social and political transformation across Europe. Coclers, who lived through both the Enlightenment and the Napoleonic era, presents us with a scene of quiet natural beauty. However, we can think about how the pursuit of the picturesque, a popular aesthetic ideal at the time, intersected with broader social dynamics. Who had the leisure to contemplate such scenes? How did these idealized landscapes obscure the realities of rural life and labor? Coclers here invites viewers into a carefully composed scene where nature appears untouched, perhaps reflecting a longing for simplicity amidst the rapid changes of the industrial revolution. The emotional resonance of this small-scale work lies in its subtle details. The delicate rendering of light on the water, the quiet stillness of the trees—all create a sense of intimacy and contemplation. Coclers offers us a space for reflection.