Vervallen windmolen 1865 - 1930

Jac van Looij made this drawing of a derelict windmill with black chalk and charcoal. The effect is wonderfully atmospheric. We can really see how the powdery softness of the chalk and charcoal allows for a full range of tones. The artist expertly controls the pressure and density of the marks, creating depth and texture. Look at the roof of the mill and the blades, and the subtle shading that suggests the volume of the building. Windmills, of course, were central to the agrarian economy of the Netherlands. But here, the industrial form is shown in disrepair, even as it remains monumental. Consider how the artist’s attention to material and process serves to highlight themes of labor, decline, and the passage of time. The traditional artistic methods of drawing may be used to highlight the impact of modernity on traditional ways of life. This drawing invites us to reflect on the value of both the old and the new.