View of Calcar on the Lower Rhine near Cleves 1635 - 1647

Aelbert Cuyp created this ink drawing called, View of Calcar on the Lower Rhine near Cleves, in the Dutch Golden Age, a period of unprecedented economic growth for the Netherlands. Cuyp specialized in landscapes, often depicting the Dutch countryside bathed in golden light. But, this seemingly straightforward landscape also carries a subtle commentary on Dutch society. The tranquil scene, with its distant cityscape, reflects the peace and prosperity that the Netherlands enjoyed during this time. We see an ordered, cultivated landscape which tells us about Dutch society’s values of hard work and land management. Cuyp was the son of a portrait painter and was certainly well-connected, becoming a member of the Dordrecht Guild of Saint Luke. If we want to understand Cuyp’s landscape tradition better, we could start by researching the archives of the Guild to understand the art market and artistic training of the time.