Femke van Ewijk
My work is based on a photograph I took of the North Holland landscape, in which two traditional windmills take center stage. I chose this location because it shows the typical characteristics of the polder landscape: dikes that provide protection against the water, windmills that symbolize water management, and the contrast between differences in elevation and the flatness of the polder.
The windmills, which stand on the dike, play an important role in the composition. In the foreground, a windmill stands next to a waterway that runs straight back, creating a strong sense of depth and perspective in the composition. The reflection of the windmills in the water of the adjacent ditch emphasizes the harmony between land and water, a central aspect of the North Holland landscape. The vast grasslands and open horizon reinforce the feeling of vastness and space that is so characteristic of this region.
