Landscape with a mill. 1861 Alexey Kondratievich Savrasov (1830-1897)

The drawing presents a pastoral scene dominated by a sense of quietude and expansive space. A large, solitary tree occupies the foreground, its dense foliage rendered with meticulous detail in charcoal, creating a focal point that draws the eye upward. The trunk is substantial, suggesting age and resilience, while the branches spread outwards, partially obscuring the view beyond.
The landscape stretches out behind the tree, gradually receding into the distance. A gently sloping field occupies much of the middle ground, covered with low vegetation indicated by short, quick strokes. This texture contrasts subtly with the smoother rendering of the sky above. In the far distance, a windmill stands as a solitary structure, its sails still and suggesting inactivity or perhaps a moment suspended in time.
The sky is characterized by soft, billowing clouds that occupy roughly one-third of the composition. The artist employed subtle gradations to suggest depth and volume within these cloud formations, creating a sense of atmospheric perspective. A muted light pervades the scene, contributing to its overall tranquility.
Subtly, the drawing evokes themes of solitude and contemplation. The isolated tree can be interpreted as a symbol of strength and endurance in the face of an expansive, perhaps indifferent, natural world. The stillness of the windmill reinforces this sense of quietude, suggesting a pause or respite from the rhythms of daily life. The vastness of the landscape itself encourages reflection on human scale within the larger context of nature. The monochromatic palette contributes to a feeling of timelessness and introspection, inviting the viewer into a space removed from immediate concerns.