Twee molens in een landschap 1870 - 1914

Willem Bastiaan Tholen created this etching, titled 'Two Windmills in a Landscape', using black ink on paper. Windmills like these were once ubiquitous features of the Dutch landscape, essential for draining the low-lying land and powering industry. Tholen made this print at a time of great social and economic change in the Netherlands. Industrialisation was rapidly transforming the country, and traditional ways of life were disappearing. Artists like Tholen often looked back to the past, idealizing the simplicity and tranquility of rural life. By focusing on windmills, Tholen evokes a sense of national identity, connecting to a rich cultural heritage. As a social historian, I might explore how images of windmills were used in Dutch national branding, and how they were deployed in debates about progress and modernisation. By consulting archives, newspapers, and other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the cultural work that this seemingly simple image performs.