Gezicht op de stad Buren 1750

Pieter Jan van Liender created this subtle vista of Buren with pen and gray ink. Dominating the skyline is the windmill, a symbol deeply interwoven with the cultural and economic identity of the Netherlands, representing industry and man's dominion over nature. The windmill, more than a practical structure, is a totemic emblem. Think back to Don Quixote tilting at windmills, an act of confronting the inevitable march of progress and the disruption it brings. Here too, the windmill can be regarded as an emotional touchstone: In its repetitive motion, one finds echoes of Sisyphus's eternal toil. The windmill’s recurring motif, found throughout centuries and cultures, embodies this psychological tension between aspiration and limitation. It reflects humanity's ceaseless drive to harness nature, and also serves as a reminder of the futility of such efforts. It stands as a symbol of labor and progress, and the psychological burden carried through generations.