Molen in weidelandschap en gezicht in de Ravensteinstraat te Brussel Possibly 1894 - 1895

This etching by Philip Zilcken, titled ‘Molen in weidelandschap en gezicht in de Ravensteinstraat te Brussel,’ captures two distinct scenes within a single frame. Made with etching, the lines define forms and evoke a sense of depth and atmosphere, despite its monochrome palette. The composition divides our attention. Below, a rural landscape dominated by a windmill creates a serene, expansive feel. Above, the urban scene of Ravensteinstraat offers a contrast in texture and density. Zilcken plays with perspective and scale here. In the landscape, the windmill stands prominently against the horizon. The buildings in Ravensteinstraat, however, appear compressed. Zilcken’s choice of etching allows for fine detail, capturing textures from the rough wood of the windmill to the stone facades of the buildings. It’s a dialogue between the man-made and the natural, questioning our sense of place and the structures we inhabit. These scenes invite us to contemplate the relationship between these different spaces and the way we navigate them.