Stadje met windmolen aan een vaart 1845 - 1925

Julius Jacobus van de Sande Bakhuyzen created this sketch of a small town with a windmill using pen in brown ink, over graphite, on paper. Here, the artist's choice of materials – humble graphite and brown ink – echoes the simplicity of the scene itself, everyday materials to depict an everyday scene. Look closely and you'll see that the ink hasn't been applied uniformly; instead, there are variations in tone and texture that bring out the subtle details of the town. You can almost feel the wind in the sails of the windmill, which would have been crucial for local economies, and smell the dampness of the canal water. This wasn't just about documenting a place, it was about capturing its essence. The medium becomes a meditation on place, labor, and the social context of 19th-century Dutch life. The artist's choice to use humble materials underscores the importance of understanding art within the context of craft and labor.