Landschap met een molen c. 1881 - 1888

Anton Mauve made this sketch, “Landscape with a Mill”, with graphite on paper. Mauve uses the graphite to create a scene with different values and densities to mimic the landscape. The marks are all we have, without colors or further details. This is an example of an artist using a readily available material for preparatory work or even sketches. Mauve was a leading artist of the Hague School, and this sketch gives us insight into the work that goes into creating a work en plein air. The image may appear simple, but actually shows the intense labor of capturing the quickly changing landscape. It shows how we can appreciate the nuances of the artmaking process through the lens of a common material and subject.