Molen 1925

Jo Bezaan made this etching titled 'Molen' - that’s windmill in Dutch - sometime in the first half of the 20th century. There’s a real sense of process here, it's all about the lines, and how they come together to describe form. I find myself drawn to the foreground, look at the way Bezaan describes that road. Notice the way the lines vary in pressure and direction, creating both depth and texture. You can almost feel the grit beneath your feet. The artist really emphasizes the physical qualities of the world. The windmill is a classic subject, but it's Bezaan's mark-making that makes it so alive. You can see how his work, with its emphasis on line and form, connects to other printmakers like M.C. Escher, who was a contemporary. Ultimately, art is a conversation, an exploration of ideas that continues across time.