Landschap met molen 1851

Jacobus Ludovicus Cornet etched this landscape with a mill, and the dominant symbol here is the windmill. More than a mere structure, it represents the ingenuity of man harnessing the elemental force of the wind. This is an ancient symbol that goes back to medieval Europe. The windmill goes beyond its practical purpose and represents human ambition and the connection between man and nature. The wheel, a symbol of cyclical movement and time, is here combined with the life-giving force of the wind. Think of the windmills in Don Quixote. It is a symbol that has evolved, morphing from an image of progress to one of romanticised folly. They may evoke feelings of nostalgia for a simpler, pre-industrial past. This landscape may resonate with us on a deeper level, reminding us of our complex relationship with the natural world. The turning blades themselves seem to beckon us into a deeper contemplation of our past, our present, and the relentless, cyclical turning of time itself.