Dorp met molen 1867 - 1890

Philip Zilcken made this etching, "Village with a Mill," sometime around the turn of the 20th century. The etching revives a traditional Dutch landscape subject, yet the printing process speaks to a new era of mass media. Windmills like this dotting the flatlands of the Netherlands were once vital for draining the land and grinding grain, a key technology for the country’s economic success. As such, they became important symbols of Dutch national identity. The etching as a medium was suited to the wider movement of the etching revival because it allowed for a mass distribution of artworks to a wider audience outside of the established elite. We can understand the meaning and value of this image by looking into the economic and social history of the Netherlands, as well as the institutional history of printmaking. Art is often entwined with the culture of its time.