Landschap met watermolen 1613 - 1695

Nicolas Perelle created this etching titled, Landschap met watermolen, which translates to Landscape with Watermill, sometime in the late 17th century. Perelle came from a family of artists, who like him, specialized in landscape paintings and prints. At first glance, the watermill seems a benign symbol of rural life. Yet, watermills, while essential for grinding grain and powering industries, were also tied to systems of labor and economic control, which could significantly affect rural communities and the working class. In 17th-century Europe, landscapes were often idealized. However, they also functioned as subtle assertions of ownership and control, reflecting the socio-economic structures of the time. This piece creates a space to consider how nature and industry intertwine. It invites us to reflect on our own relationship with the land, and on the hidden histories of labor and power embedded within seemingly pastoral scenes.