Sägemühle in Lichtental bei Baden 1840

Johann Nepomuk Rauch made this watercolour drawing of a sawmill in Lichtental bei Baden, Austria, around 1830. Picturesque views of the Austrian countryside became popular around this time, encouraged by new ideas of Romanticism that celebrated nature and local traditions. The image itself is interesting because it is so indistinct. Is this a realistic, objective view of the mill? The hazy atmosphere makes it look more like a dream or memory. The buildings are nestled in the landscape and almost hidden by the foliage. It is as if Rauch wanted to suggest that nature is more powerful than culture. Such an idea may have been encouraged by the government of Austria. The authorities promoted a conservative ideology after the Napoleonic wars, encouraging artists to celebrate local traditions rather than anything that might challenge the established order. As historians, we can study images like this alongside other documents to understand the complex relationship between art, politics and society.