Wind Mill at Antwerp 1866

Johan Barthold Jongkind made this watercolor titled "Wind Mill at Antwerp" in 1866. Notice how the scene emphasizes the traditional technology of the windmill against a backdrop of shifting skies. Painted in Belgium, this work reminds us that the mid-19th century was a time of immense social and technological change across Europe. The Industrial Revolution was in full swing, and cities like Antwerp were becoming centers of trade and innovation. Yet, here, Jongkind directs our attention to the older technologies that were rapidly becoming obsolete. Does this scene invite a kind of nostalgia, or does it reflect a self-conscious turn away from industry? To answer these questions, one might consider the exhibition culture of the time, the relationship of artists to the market, and the growing interest in landscape painting, all of which favored familiar and accessible scenes over complex reflections of contemporary life.