Gezicht op twee molens in Zaandam before 1895

This is a monochromatic print titled 'Gezicht op twee molens in Zaandam' (View of two windmills in Zaandam) by Maurice Bucquet. The Netherlands have a long history of dependence on windmills, which were crucial for drainage and land reclamation, shaping both the landscape and the national identity. Windmills, while functional, became symbols of Dutch ingenuity and resilience. Bucquet’s print connects to a lineage of landscape art celebrating Dutch heritage. There is also a personal dimension to landscape art like this. Bucquet, who lived through periods of rapid industrialization, might have seen the windmills as emblems of a disappearing way of life. The choice to depict them could be interpreted as a nostalgic look back at a pre-industrial, more agrarian past. The image offers more than just a picturesque scene, it encapsulates themes of national identity, technological change, and a longing for a simpler time.