Bouw van een muur in rivier Possibly 1677 - 1696

This is Giovanni Battista Falda’s engraving, ‘Construction of a Wall in the River’. The scene is dominated by a geometric structure, a construction site set in the river. The structure itself is delineated with precision, each line contributing to the definition of its form. Falda masterfully uses line and form to convey engineering prowess and the mastery of nature. The central shape of the construction site establishes a sense of order amidst the fluid, natural environment. The lines create texture, from the ripple of the water to the density of the trees on the river bank. The composition is a study in contrasts – the man-made versus the natural, the static versus the dynamic. The piece speaks to a period of scientific optimism, where human intellect sought to impose structure upon the natural world. Falda’s strategic use of line transforms the act of construction into a visual statement, one that resonates with the era’s fascination with control, utility and progress.