Landschap met paard bij watermolen 1617 - 1634

Magdalena van de Passe created this landscape with a horse by a watermill as an engraving. As a woman printmaker in the early 17th century, van de Passe occupied a unique, and often overlooked, position in the art world. In this detailed scene, we observe the intersection of nature and human activity, typical of the period's fascination with landscape. But what does it mean to see this landscape through a woman's eyes? Van de Passe was part of a family of artists, learning the trade from her father. This familial context allowed her entry into a professional world that was largely male-dominated. The presence of a watermill, a symbol of industry, juxtaposed with the tranquility of nature, invites a conversation about the changing roles and representations of women in a transforming society. The landscape becomes a stage upon which we can explore the dynamics of gender, labor, and the natural world as seen, and created, by a woman artist of her time.