The artwork “Mill in the evening” by Piet Mondrian, created in 1905, stands as a fine example of the Impressionist movement. It is painted using oil on canvas and measures 75 x 132 cm. The genre of the piece is landscape, which was a common subject for many Impressionist painters who sought to capture the transient effects of light and atmosphere.
In the artwork, Mondrian depicts a serene rural scene at dusk. The composition is centered around a windmill, whose sails appear immobile against the soft evening sky. The sky itself is rendered with gentle, luminous tones, suggesting the fading light of the day. The surrounding landscape encompasses fields and patches of foliage, with the horizontal lines of the land providing a calming sense of order and stability. A subtle reflection in the water adds a delicate balance to the scene, indicating the presence of a tranquil body of water in the foreground. Small figures can be seen in the distance, adding a human element to this pastoral setting, while birds in flight evoke a sense of freedom and movement against the static backdrop. The brushwork is loose yet intentional, a hallmark of Impressionist technique, aiming to capture the essence and mood of the moment rather than the elaborate detail. The overall effect of the painting is one of peaceful contemplation, inviting the viewer to pause and appreciate the quiet beauty of the natural world as day transitions to night.
