Molen 1880 - 1882

This is George Hendrik Breitner's sketch of a windmill, currently held in the Rijksmuseum. At first glance, we see an asymmetrical arrangement of lines which capture the bare bones of a structure. Breitner uses a pale lead pencil to map out a top-down perspective of the windmill. He destabilizes our conventional understanding of architectural drawing by refusing to present a complete picture. The lines seem tentative, almost exploratory, as if Breitner is working through his perception of space and form. Notice how the lines vary in weight, suggesting depth and shadow, despite the sketch's minimalist approach. Incomplete structures challenge our drive for resolution, prompting questions rather than providing answers. The sketch's deliberate incompleteness allows it to function not merely as a depiction of a windmill, but as an exploration of seeing itself. In this way, Breitner prompts us to consider how art can be a site of continual interrogation rather than fixed representation.