"Windmill at Wijk-bij-Duurstede"

"Windmill at Wijk bij Duurstede" is an oil canvas painted by Jacob van Ruisdael in 1665. The detailing in this painting of both the windmill's sails and the river's waves are impressive. I find this very fascinating because it gives feeling of peace from the lighting cascading all over. The text book describes this painting as Ruisdael's landscape conveying a dramatic mood through the wind-raked sky, mobile clouds, and alternating sun and shadow streaking the low horizon. Where as I see it combining all of Dutch's aspects- the low land, lots of water, large sky- and bringing all of them to focus on the Dutch windmill. This painting represents a dead calm before a storm. Although the heavy clouds and grey sky indicate a storm coming, the mill's arms and the way that the sails of the boat is relaxed, propose that there is no wind. Ruisdael showed a moment before a storm breaks out.