Molen aan het water c. 1809 - 1860

M. Baumhauer's "Molen aan het water" is rendered with an eye for the textures of the built environment and the natural world. Using only lines, Baumhauer creates a full atmospheric effect. The drawing captures a traditional windmill, a symbol deeply intertwined with Dutch history and its mastery of water management. This is not just a picturesque scene, but a depiction of a technology central to the country’s economic and social development. Notice the precision in the rendering of the windmill's structure, contrasted with the more fluid lines used for the water and foliage. This juxtaposition highlights the blend of human ingenuity and natural resources. Consider the labor embedded in both the creation of the windmill and the print. One is an elaborate feat of engineering, the other the result of skilled handwork. They are both products of specialized knowledge, tied to wider systems of labor, politics and consumption.