Landschap met molen 1860 - 1885

This landscape with a windmill was created by Jan Vrolijk using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on the corrosive power of acid. The image begins as a polished metal plate, usually copper or zinc. Vrolijk would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance known as the 'ground'. Using a sharp needle, he then scratched away lines of the composition, exposing the metal beneath. When dipped in acid, these lines would bite into the plate, creating grooves. The longer the plate remained in the acid, the deeper and darker the lines would appear in the final print. This process is particularly evocative because windmills like the one depicted weren't just picturesque; they were essential machines in the Dutch economy, converting wind energy into the power to grind grain and drain water, therefore enabling land use. Vrolijk’s print beautifully captures the fusion of labor, technology, and environment that defined the Dutch landscape. It reminds us that even the most pastoral scenes are often deeply intertwined with production and human effort.