Weg tussen Weesp en Muiden c. 1877

This etching, "Weg tussen Weesp en Muiden", was made by Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande, capturing a serene Dutch landscape. The windmill, a dominant symbol here, evokes a sense of industry and progress, deeply rooted in the Dutch Golden Age. But the windmill is more than just a practical structure. Think back to Don Quixote tilting at windmills, casting them as giants. This speaks to a complex duality—the windmill as a symbol of both prosperity and folly, progress and delusion. The image of livestock evokes classical pastoral scenes; these animals are tied to ancient notions of Arcadia, mirroring humanity’s connection to nature. This image resonates with a powerful, almost subconscious longing for a simpler, harmonious existence. The cyclical nature of life, death, and rebirth, the windmill's constant turning, these images echo through the ages, resurfacing in various forms, connecting us to the collective memory of mankind.