“Stammer Mill with Streaked Sky” is an impressionist landscape painting by artist Piet Mondrian, created in the period from 1905 to 1906. The artwork is executed in oil on canvas and measures 73.6 x 96.5 cm. It represents an early phase of Mondrian’s artistic journey, one that precedes his well-known abstractionist style. Although the painting is currently part of a private collection, its impact on art history extends beyond its immediate visibility.
The artwork depicts a robust and towering windmill, the Stammer Mill, set against a dramatic sky, which is rendered with sweeping brushstrokes suggesting movement and energy. The skyline is characterized by a mix of sunset hues, possibly indicating either the dawn or dusk. The dramatic contrasts of the sky are mirrored in the water below, where reflections softly shimmer. In the foreground, dark silhouettes of land and structures anchor the scene and frame the central windmill, which dominates the composition. The colour palette is composed of rich, subdued tones, which provide a sense of moodiness and depth to the painting.
This piece embodies the principles of impressionism, a movement that sought to capture the transient effects of light and colour, usually through landscapes and scenes of daily life. Mondrian’s use of brushstrokes to render the streaked sky conveys the impermanence of the moment and the sensory experience of the atmosphere, quintessential themes of the impressionist movement.
