An Old Water Mill 

Cornelis Willaerts created this drawing, "An Old Water Mill," using pen and brown ink with a brown wash. The artist's focus on architectural form invites us to consider how Willaerts uses structure to convey meaning. Notice the mill's dilapidated state. Willaerts meticulously renders its decaying facade using linear precision and tonal washes. The composition, dominated by the mill’s asymmetrical structure, suggests entropy. The use of line is particularly striking. It defines the contours of the building and creates a sense of depth. The texture of the crumbling brickwork is depicted through dense hatching, while smoother washes suggest the flat planes of the roof. This contrast evokes a sense of decay, yet the detailed execution affirms the mill’s enduring presence. The drawing’s visual language prompts an awareness of time, decay, and the formal representation of these concepts through architectural form.