Who painted Old Water Mill?

Old Water Mill was painted by Paul Sandby Munn in 1807.

Where can I see Old Water Mill?

Old Water Mill is held by National Gallery of Art.

What movement is Old Water Mill?

Old Water Mill is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Old Water Mill

Paul Sandby Munn , 1807

Old Water Mill is an ink print by the Romanticist artist Paul Sandby Munn. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.

About this work

Overview

Paul Sandby Munn’s 1807 lithograph, titled Old Water Mill, depicts a modest wooden mill set beside a river. The composition captures a tranquil, semi‑wild landscape where the mill’s simple roof and partially concealed wheel sit amid tangled trees and brush. Two figures stand at the water’s edge, one appearing to fish or examine the current, adding a human presence to the otherwise natural scene.

Subject & Meaning

The work presents a quiet rural industry, emphasizing the relationship between human labor and the surrounding environment. The mill, modest and partially hidden, suggests the modest scale of local enterprise, while the figures imply everyday activity—perhaps subsistence fishing—highlighting a simple, self‑sufficient way of life in early‑19th‑century England.

Technique & Style

Executed in pen‑and‑tusche on lithographic stone, the image is characterized by swift, scratchy lines that convey texture in foliage, water, and the mill’s structure. The grainy quality of the print results from the lithographic process, where the artist draws directly onto the stone surface, allowing a spontaneous, almost sketch‑like finish that retains a sense of immediacy.

History & Provenance

Created in 1807, the lithograph reflects Munn’s engagement with the burgeoning print market of the period, when lithography was gaining popularity for its capacity to reproduce detailed drawings. The piece has been held in several private collections before entering its current institutional holding, illustrating the work’s continued appreciation among collectors of early British prints.

Context

During the early 1800s, water mills were common fixtures in the English countryside, serving both agricultural and industrial purposes. Munn’s depiction aligns with contemporary interests in documenting rural scenery and the modest technologies that sustained local economies, offering a visual record of a landscape increasingly altered by industrialization.