The Rhine Falls at Schaffhausen
ca. 1780
Franz Schütz captures the raw power of Europe's largest waterfall around 1780, right at the tail end of the Rococo period when artists were starting to obsess over dramatic nature. You can see the massive Rhine Falls crashing down on the left, dwarfing the two tiny fishermen in the foreground who seem to be having a very loud day at the office. Perched high above the spray is a castle, while a solitary tower stands guard in the river on the right, creating a perfect balance between wild nature and human engineering. It’s a classic example of the 'Sublime' aesthetic that was just starting to take over European art—making humans look small and nature look huge.
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