The image shows a rustic watermill depicted with delicate ink lines and light washes of color. The architecture is the main focus, with sloping rooflines leading upward towards the top right of the image. A slightly elevated perspective provides a view inside the mill's structure. Soft browns, beiges, and hints of blue create a subdued color palette. The brushstrokes have a sketch-like quality, detailing the stone walls and wooden beams. Faint outlines of trees in the distance add depth to the drawing. Overall, the image depicts a detailed portrayal of the historical mill structure.
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The image shows a rustic watermill depicted with delicate ink lines and light washes of color. The architecture is the main focus, with sloping rooflines leading upward towards the top right of the image. A slightly elevated perspective provides a view inside the mill's structure. Soft browns, beiges, and hints of blue create a subdued color palette. The brushstrokes have a sketch-like quality, detailing the stone walls and wooden beams. Faint outlines of trees in the distance add depth to the drawing. Overall, the image depicts a detailed portrayal of the historical mill structure.

National Gallery of Art · Drawing

An Old Water Mill

Cornelis Willaerts

Medium
pen and brown and black ink with gray and brown wash and blue and green chalk over graphite on laid paper
Dimensions
overall: 30.4 x 38.3 cm (11 15/16 x 15 1/16 in.)
Classification
Drawing
Accession number
1985.1.68
Credit line
Julius S. Held Collection
Time span
1601 to 1650
Department
CG-E

Subjects and terms

  • Dutch
  • Rustic
  • exterior
  • architecture
Provenance

Z between 2 5-pointed stars. Julius S. Held [1905-2002] by 1970; gift 1985 to NGA.

Inscription

unknown hand lower right verso in brown ink: Cor: Willarts; later hand lower right verso in graphite: Cornelis Adamsz. Willaerts / Sohn des Adam W. 1622 Meister Utrecht / + vo r 1675

Watermarks

Circles below chalice

NGA object ID 65787. Collection metadata is reproduced under CC0. This work is included because its NGA published-image record is marked open access; visitors should recheck the source record before substantial reuse.