Polder bij Weesp c. 1873

Carel Nicolaas Storm van 's-Gravesande made this print of a Dutch polder, rendered in subtle grey tones, using the etching technique. The incised lines hold the ink, transferring an image onto paper. The hazy atmosphere of the scene is well suited to the etching process, which allows for an extraordinary amount of detail in this small work. Note the individual blades of grass, the details of the windmills, and the textural differences that define the image’s various zones. A painstaking amount of time would have been involved in the careful depiction of the scene. More than just a pretty landscape, the scene evokes the Dutch mastery of their natural environment. The presence of the grazing cattle speaks to the economics of land use. The careful integration of natural resources and animal husbandry—all made possible by those ever-laboring windmills. The print is thus a testament to both artistic skill, and the work required to build a nation. It’s a reminder that art and craft are not separate spheres, but deeply intertwined.