Inspired by Johan Barthold Jongkind (1819-1891) – Mill near a canal in Holland (July 19, 1867) – Water color / Black stone – 5,55 x 10,43 inch

Hans hung around with some friends all night. He loves to party, drink until he loses control. With his mates every weekend, it’s up to whoever gets drunk dead as quickly as possible. Although youth is far behind them. They are all married and fathers of several children each. And yet, vice is still there. Their wives gave up. Hans’s wife left with their three kids last week. She had enough of this selfish and dangerous lifestyle. Finding yourself alone, keeping an eye on the car’s engine in the driveway …

So, Hans decided not to go home those nights and stay at his workplace: the mill. Next door is a small half-decrepit house with a sink, a mattress on an old iron camp bed and an old coffee maker making great coffee. A little piece of heaven along the canal, under close guard of three black and white cows, belonging to his uncle.

The mill is all his life, a kid’s dream. A job requiring a daily presence, each day of the year. No way out. But Hans doesn’t care. Probably a further detail driving his wife mad. The wage is not stupendous, but after all passion is not about money, full stop.

This morning, the water began to rise long before Hans arrived at the site. He did not even notice anything. The alcohol vapours are really frightening. And when the miller finally wakes up in the middle of the afternoon, the flood has already reached its peak. It’s a disaster. Both feet in the water, he moves against the current towards the door of the shack. His goal: reaching the mill quickly and trying to save the bags of flour placed on the ground. The same ones Hans had to tidy up the day before and left … he really hopes to get there on time. But as he opens the door of the mill, the four bags decided to sail away by the sea. His foot stumbles on … Hans finds himself face down in the salty fresh water. His hard work of the week …

Hans has never partyed ever again …