Het Molentje (The Little Mill) by Anonymous

Het Molentje (The Little Mill) 1670 - 1800

drawing, brown-ink, brush, pen

landscape illustration sketch

drawing

toned paper

light pencil work

ink painting

brown-ink

pencil sketch

etching

ink drawing experimentation

brush

pen

watercolour bleed

watercolour illustration

watercolor

This anonymous 17th or 18th century Dutch drawing, titled "Het Molentje" (The Little Mill), depicts a charming Dutch landscape with a windmill, boat, and canal. The artist used pen and ink to create a delicate and evocative sketch that captures the rural character of a Dutch village. The composition emphasizes the windmill, a symbol of Dutch ingenuity and industry, and the flowing water of the canal, showcasing the importance of waterways for transportation and commerce in the Netherlands. The drawing is a testament to the enduring appeal of Dutch landscape art, offering a glimpse into the everyday life of the Dutch people.

Comments

minneapolisinstituteofart about 1 year ago

⋮

Martin Royalton Kisch identified this drawing, long attributed to Antonie van Borssom, as a copy of one by Aert de Gelder in the British Museum (1860,0616.129). De Gelder, Rembrandt’s final student and long-lived acolyte carried his master’s style forward into the 18th century. Royalton Kish dates the original drawing as 1670-1700. It is difficult to date the drawing offered here. Close copies have been made of Rembrandt and Rembrandt-school drawings ever since the 17th century, but the present one is on hand-made laid paper consistent with 17th and 18th century usage.