Two Watermills and an Open Sluice by Jacob van Ruisdael, 1653
Jacob van Ruisdael captured the tension between nature's power and human needs. Glimpsed from the bank of a stream amid thick foliage, turbulent waters rush through an open sluice. Inclement weather is suggested by the dark clouds; uneven, craggy branches and spreading trees grow on either side of the river. Against the ominous sky, the buildings appear solid and sturdy, and a solitary male figure with his dog seems dwarfed by the natural setting. Sunlight breaks through the heavily clouded sky and settles on the central motif of the two half-timber thatched millhouses.
~ J. Paul Getty Museum
Be careful not to step on the poppies as you run through this beautiful green field.
Hear the rumble of distant thunder as you take cover from the impending rain.
Smell the chimney smoke as you walk bundled up through the snow covered streets.
Close your eyes and imagine the mist surrounding you in this quaint mountain village.
Take in the clear waters and feel the warm breeze of this beautiful hidden cove.