Landschap met molens c. 1879

Theo Hanrath’s ‘Landschap met molens’ is a landscape of windmills, likely drawn in the late 19th century with graphite on paper. Hanrath’s choice of graphite enables him to quickly capture the play of light on the landscape, and the texture of the scene. The varying pressure of his mark-making gives a sense of depth and atmosphere, from the heavy dark foreground to the hazy distant sky. Graphite, one of the most common mediums, is created by mining, and is a relatively inexpensive material. It is, however, a highly versatile material that can be used to create a range of effects, from delicate shading to bold lines, and is quick to pick up and put down. The choice of graphite is a deliberate one, making the drawing easily reproducible for the masses through printmaking. Hanrath’s landscape embodies not just windmills, but an artistic production that speaks to wider issues of labor, politics and accessibility of art in everyday life.