Molen met houten gebouwen bij Amsterdam 1859

Hendrik Abraham Klinkhamer made this watercolor of a "Mill with Wooden Buildings near Amsterdam" sometime in the mid-19th century. The artist’s chosen medium invites us to appreciate his craft; notice how he coaxes tone and texture from thin washes of pigment. But let's also consider the scene itself. Note the wooden structures, economically built; the planks are simply laid over a frame. The windmill in the background would have been a crucial part of the Dutch economy, grinding grains to produce flour, or driving sawmills. Windmills also played a key role in land reclamation by pumping water from low-lying areas. The image reminds us of the vital role these structures played in the Netherlands, and also of the labor required to keep them in good working order, all rendered with delicate skill by Klinkhamer.