The artwork titled “Two Undershot Watermills with Men Opening a Sluice” is a landscape painting by Jacob van Ruisdael, dated to around 1650. As a work of the Baroque period, it depicts a tranquil and pastoral scene with careful attention to detail and a dramatic use of light and shadow, which is characteristic of the movement. The painting belongs to a private collection and showcases Ruisdael’s skill in portraying natural and man-made elements in harmony.
In the painting, two rustic watermills are shown, with water pouring vigorously through a sluice that men are depicted opening, likely to regulate the water flow for milling purposes. The mills appear slightly worn and nestled in a natural landscape, with lush foliage partially obscuring the structures and adding a sense of depth and naturalism. Clouds gather in the sky, suggesting a dynamic and changing atmosphere, while the water’s movement adds a sense of life and motion to the scene. Birds are seen in the sky, further adding to the naturalistic portrayal of this serene yet active rural moment captured by van Ruisdael.
