Gezicht op een weg langs een molen en een sloot before 1898

A.F. Tollens created this image of a road alongside a mill and a ditch, but the date is unknown. The image, with its focus on a rural scene, evokes a sense of national identity. The scene itself may appear straightforward, but it embodies several layers of cultural and historical significance. Windmills in the Netherlands have long symbolized Dutch ingenuity and the battle against the waters. By placing it in the distance, Tollens invites us to consider the cultural and economic landscape of the Netherlands. Is it self-consciously conservative, evoking an older, idealized vision of Dutch life, or is it progressive, perhaps commenting on a changing relationship with the landscape? For an art historian, this image offers a wealth of research opportunities. By exploring archives and engaging with cultural studies, we can better understand the artwork. Ultimately, the meaning of this artwork is contingent on its social and institutional context.