Gezicht op een straat met een molen c. 1828 - 1897

This sketch by Adrianus Eversen presents us with a streetscape dominated by a windmill, a symbol deeply embedded in the Dutch psyche. Windmills, more than mere machines, represent Dutch ingenuity and the struggle against the waters. Yet, consider how this motif has traversed time. From ancient Persia, where windmills first appeared, to their role in Cervantes's tales as giants to be battled, the windmill accumulates layers of meaning. Here, in Eversen's rendering, it is not just a functional structure but an embodiment of national identity. The collective memory of a nation intertwined with this image evokes a sense of pride, tinged with the knowledge of a constant battle against nature's forces. This symbol, seen across centuries and cultures, reminds us that images are never static. Their meanings evolve, shaped by the currents of history and the subconscious desires of those who behold them.