Holländische Windmühle / Abgebrochene Windmülhe. ('Dutch Windmill' and 'Abandoned Windmill)

Ferdinand Schmutzer

Schmutzer used a single copper plate, on which he etched two large Dutch landscapes. In this state he also created a third image at the right, a remarque, probably to be printed in the lower margin of the editioned works. He then presumably cut the large plate into three smaller plates to be printed separately. He pencil signed this proof beneath the image of the windmill.

From an early state before Ferdinand Schmutzer added the figures in both scenes and drew the lines where he intended to cut the plate into three separate images. The bottom image, "Holländische Windmühle", was eventually printed by Schmutzer as a single print; however, the other two plates do not appear to have been printed separately from this one.

While this image is listed in the Weixlgärtner catalogue as having been created in 1920, it was likely done after a photograph he would have taken at the end of the 19th century when he studied for two years in the Netherlands.

From a later state after Ferdinand Schmutzer added the figures in both scenes and drawn the lines where he intended to cut the plate.

This impression is sold with an earlier state.