Ved en mølle 1878

Simon Ludvig Ditlev Simonsen created this print, titled "Ved en mølle," portraying a windmill beside grazing horses. The windmill, a symbol of human labor and ingenuity, has ancient roots, appearing in various forms across cultures. From Persia to Europe, windmills represent our attempts to harness nature’s power. Yet here, the dilapidated state of the mill, its sails broken, evokes a sense of decline. Consider the horse, an emblem of vitality and freedom. Its presence near the decaying mill suggests a tension between natural and man-made worlds. The horse has journeyed through art history from the frescoes of Lascaux to classical sculptures to Delacroix, each time embodying power or grace. The emotional landscape of this image is charged with a profound connection to our subconscious. It's a recurring motif, this pairing of nature’s vitality against symbols of human decline. The visual weight between the animal and architectural world create a dialogue that engages us, stirring deep-seated feelings about time, progress, and the cyclical nature of existence.