Laakhaven en Laakmolen in Den Haag 1888 - 1934

Willem Adrianus Grondhout made this etching of Laakhaven en Laakmolen in Den Haag, with delicate lines on a copper plate, that he then covered in ink and pressed onto paper. Looking at it now, I imagine the artist standing there, squinting in the sun, trying to capture the scene before him, the harbor, the boats, the windmill, the people milling about. How does one freeze the hustle and bustle of modern life? He probably knew that etching had a long history, going way back, but here he was, adding his own little chapter to the story. I wonder if he was thinking about Rembrandt, another Dutch master of etching, as he worked. Or maybe he was just focused on getting the light just right, trying to create a sense of depth and atmosphere with just a few simple lines. Artists are always in conversation with one another, across time and space.