Riviergezicht met een molen en schepen c. 1825 - 1875

Petrus Johannes Schotel rendered this river scene with a mill and ships using brush and watercolor, likely during the mid-19th century. The artist’s monochrome palette throws into relief his skill with washes. The application of fluid layers of pigment gives a palpable sense of depth, and suggests the atmospheric conditions of the scene. The soft tonality and blurred lines of the watercolor medium also lend themselves well to depicting the reflections on the water. The sketchily drawn details of the ships and buildings show that this was likely a study in preparation for a larger painting. The image shows the infrastructure of maritime trade, which was the driving force behind the 19th century Dutch economy. Schotel captured the dynamism of the river landscape in a way that reveals the importance of these elements to the Netherlands’ identity. By emphasizing the material qualities of watercolor, Schotel not only depicts a scene but also invites us to reflect on its wider social and economic implications.