A Mill on Rocks in a River in Norway 1635 - 1675

Allart van Everdingen created this drawing, "A Mill on Rocks in a River in Norway," using pen and brown ink with gray wash. The mill, a symbol of industry and man's dominion over nature, stands firmly amidst the wild landscape. Water, often a symbol of purity and renewal, here drives the wheel, a cyclical motif reminiscent of the wheel of fortune or the endless cycle of life and death. This elemental pairing echoes through art history—consider the classical myths of gods residing near rivers and streams. Later, these concepts reemerge transformed in Romantic landscapes. One can't help but recall the alchemical symbolism where water and earth combine to create new life, ideas constantly recycled throughout history. These motifs speak to our subconscious, a collective memory where nature and human intervention constantly negotiate. Just as the water relentlessly turns the wheel, these symbols reappear, ever-changing yet eternally familiar.