Landscape with Windmill 1764 - 1804

Anthonie Erkelens made this watercolor called Landscape with Windmill sometime around the late 18th century in the Netherlands. The image depicts a rural scene with a large windmill as its focal point, reflecting in the calm water. The Dutch landscape tradition had a huge influence at the time, and artists like Erkelens often portrayed their country’s flat terrain, waterways, and iconic windmills. These images weren't just pretty pictures; they also symbolized Dutch ingenuity in water management and land reclamation. Windmills, for example, were essential for pumping water and enabling agriculture in low-lying areas. We can learn more about the social context of this image through historical maps, agricultural records, and studies of Dutch water management during this time. This helps us understand the cultural values and economic activities of the time and how they were expressed in art.