Molen bij een vaart 1887 - 1952

Chris van der Windt created this etching, "Mill by a Canal," using ink on paper, producing a landscape dominated by the stark contrast between light and shadow. This creates a sense of depth and emphasizes the structural form of the mill. The dark, vertical mass of the mill anchors the composition, its solidity playing against the horizontal lines of the water and sky. Van der Windt's work captures the industrial presence amidst nature, echoing the Symbolist movement's interest in exploring the duality of human progress and its impact on the natural world. The textures, achieved through etching, create a surface of broken marks that invite the viewer's eye to engage with the scene. Semiotically, the mill can be viewed as a signifier of Dutch identity, while its industrial nature hints at the transformations occurring within the landscape. The contrast of the sharp, angular lines of the mill against the more fluid lines of the water suggests a tension between the constructed and the natural. The etching technique reinforces this dichotomy, as the sharp lines of the etching tool emphasize the mill's form while the ink creates a tonal fluidity in the water. Ultimately, the structured composition reflects a broader cultural discourse about the relationship between modernity and tradition.