Laakhaven en Laakmolen in Den Haag 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching of Laakhaven en Laakmolen in Den Haag. It is tiny, only 185 mm high and 70 mm wide. There’s something about how the marks are made in this print that pulls me in. It is as if the image came together one line at a time. The scene depicts a group of boats in the distance and a windmill in the mid-ground. In between, there is what looks like a broken fence, and some figures walking across the space, perhaps on a dirt path. The marks and lines are very dry and uneven. It is not like a smooth, classical style print. The closest touchstone I can think of are the etchings of James Ensor. But while Ensor used his etching skills to create weird and grotesque imaginary scenes, this artist is simply rendering his world. It is that contrast, between the subject matter and the process, that makes the piece so compelling. Like a quiet conversation, inviting you to linger.