Artwork
Landscape with Millstone near a Cask
Landscape with Millstone near a Cask is an ink print by the Baroque artist Allart van Everdingen. It dates from 1650 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
The composition balances natural elements with modest human activity, characteristic of the artist’s focus on landscape.
Created circa 1650, this etching by Allart van Everdingen presents a tranquil countryside tableau. A winding stream cuts through a wooded setting, where a sizable tree dominates the middle ground. A mill equipped with a waterwheel occupies the background, while a solitary figure traverses a narrow path. The composition balances natural elements with modest human activity, characteristic of the artist’s focus on landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The work centers on a millstone placed beside a wooden cask, objects that hint at agricultural labor and storage. The presence of the mill and flowing water underscores the interdependence of industry and nature in 17th‑century Dutch rural life. The lone traveler adds a narrative touch, suggesting movement through an otherwise still environment.
Technique & Style
Executed with a fine‑point etching needle, the artist incised delicate lines into a copper plate, then printed the image onto paper. Varied hatching and cross‑hatching generate tonal depth, rendering foliage, water, and stone with a sense of solidity. The precise linear quality and subtle gradations reflect the meticulous approach typical of Dutch printmaking of the period.
History & Provenance
Allart van Everdingen, a Dutch painter and printmaker active during the Golden Age, produced this piece amid a flourishing print culture. While specific ownership records are scarce, the etching aligns with his broader output of landscape prints that circulated among collectors and connoisseurs in the mid‑17th century.
Own this work as a print
Artist & collection
Artist
Allaert van Everdingen (Dutch pronunciation: ; bapt. 18 June 1621 – 8 November 1675 (buried)), was a Dutch Golden Age painter and printmaker in etching and mezzotint.
