Overhaal en een molen buiten Amsterdam 1660 - 1677

Anthonie van Borssom made this drawing of a windmill outside Amsterdam using pen and brown ink, with grey wash. The controlled strokes and washes of the drawing define a waterside scene that's both natural and productive. Note the broad strokes delineating the mill’s form, its textural contrasts achieved through the layered washes. The choice of a humble reed pen emphasizes the everyday quality of the scene, the artist opting for a tool that mirrors the landscape's own simplicity. Van Borssom's drawing captures a moment in the golden age of Dutch trade and industry, where windmills were essential machines, central to Holland's economic success. The labor is made implicit in the drawing, the mill standing as a testament to human ingenuity and industry. By focusing on the everyday and the industrial, Van Borssom elevates a common scene into a subject worthy of artistic attention. It reminds us of the significance of materials, labor, and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.