Windmills in Holland 1871

Claude Monet's "Windmills in Holland" is painted with oils on canvas, using techniques that were considered avant-garde at the time. Monet applies paint with loose, gestural brushstrokes, capturing the scene's fleeting qualities of light and atmosphere. The material qualities of oil paint—its viscosity, opacity, and ability to blend—are crucial here. Monet's touches render the windmills, canal, and sky, emphasizing the textures of the landscape. But what is the social context? Windmills were not just picturesque; they powered Holland’s industry and agriculture. By painting them, Monet acknowledges the labor and engineering intertwined with the Dutch landscape, even as he dematerializes them through the act of painting. So, consider this work not just for its beauty, but for its layering of art, labor, and the industrial landscape, challenging distinctions between fine art and the world of production.