Molen aan het water c. 1828 - 1897

Adrianus Eversen created this pencil sketch of a windmill on the water sometime in the 19th century. Windmills were a common feature of the Dutch landscape and economy, used for draining water and grinding grain. But this is no idealized landscape. It’s a quick sketch, not a finished painting. It invites us to consider the image's cultural meaning. The Netherlands has a long history of technical innovation in hydraulic engineering. Windmills are essential to Dutch national identity. Moreover, Eversen was a painter of townscapes, and this sketch may be related to his urban interests. His paintings offered a conservative and nostalgic view of Dutch cities. This sketch gives us an insight into Eversen’s method of working, and the way that the nation’s social and economic history was always present in his vision as an artist. Art historians consult a range of resources to understand such works, from technical studies of Eversen's drawing techniques to social histories of the Dutch economy.