Onderstuk van een korenmolen in Brugge 1905

Wijnand Otto Jan Nieuwenkamp made this print of a Brugge windmill, using etching, a method that relies on the controlled corrosion of metal. The image itself emphasizes the robust construction of the mill's base, crafted from sturdy timbers and rough-hewn stone. Note how Nieuwenkamp's etched lines follow the forms closely, giving a real sense of their weight and texture. The scene captures a moment of industrial decay, as windmills like this one became obsolete. The social context here is the shift from wind power to steam power in the late 19th century. The making process is crucial here. Etching is itself a laborious, painstaking process. Nieuwenkamp, by showing us the bones of this mill, asks us to consider the labor of its construction, and of the miller who once worked there. He elevates the status of these more vernacular forms, inviting us to value craft and industry, not just high art.