Schets van een landschap met links een molen 1797 - 1870

This landscape sketch with a windmill was made by Andreas Schelfhout, a Dutch artist active in the first half of the 19th century. With its low horizon and vast sky, the drawing captures the characteristic scenery of the Netherlands. In the 19th century, windmills were not only a functional part of the Dutch landscape, used for drainage and milling, but were also increasingly seen as national symbols. Artists like Schelfhout contributed to this image by depicting them in their work, often imbuing them with a sense of nostalgia and national pride. The detailed rendering of the mill, contrasted with the hazier background, elevates its importance. To truly understand the role of the windmill in Dutch art, one can look at the development of Dutch landscape painting and the rise of nationalism in the 19th century using the Rijksmuseum's archive. In this way, the historical role of art and its institutions becomes clear.