Molen aan de dijk bij Capelle aan den IJssel 1865

Johannes Tavenraat created this evocative sketch of a mill on the dyke near Capelle aan den IJssel using graphite and ink, in 1850. The immediacy of the medium speaks to a moment captured; a fleeting impression of the scene. Yet, the humble materials and the swiftness of the drawing belie the importance of the subject. Windmills like this one were the engines of the Dutch economy, grinding grain and pumping water to reclaim land. Tavenraat’s light, yet precise lines delineate the form of the mill, emphasizing its timber construction and the complex mechanics of its operation. The very fabric of the Netherlands was thus predicated on the felling of trees, the milling of lumber, the raising of structures, and the physical labor to keep such systems running. By focusing on this essential structure, Tavenraat's sketch elevates the everyday into a symbol of Dutch ingenuity, while also reminding us of the constant work required to maintain the country’s precarious position below sea level.