The Windmiller's Guest 

Edmund Blair Leighton painted "The Windmiller's Guest" with oil on canvas, at some point between 1870 and 1920. The artist has used paint thinly and precisely to capture the scene with clarity and a romantic aesthetic, but let's consider the context suggested by the narrative. Windmills were essential technology, powering the milling of grain and, with that, the production of bread, a staple food. We can imagine the labor and skill involved in constructing and maintaining a windmill, and the miller as a pivotal figure in the local economy. Leighton's choice of subject matter invites us to reflect on the lives and labor of rural communities. In contrast to the industrial revolution, windmills represent a connection to older, agrarian ways of life. The painting becomes a commentary on changing social landscapes and the value of traditional craftsmanship.