View of a River 1637 - 1674

Johannes Lingelbach painted this 'View of a River' in oils on canvas in the Dutch Golden Age. Lingelbach, working in the Netherlands, likely aimed to capture not just a landscape, but a sense of the era's burgeoning trade and travel. The painting presents a scene of busy river commerce. Large boats ferry people across the water, while figures on horseback and with pack animals populate the banks. The rocky landscape could be seen as a reference to the expansion of trade routes that characterized Dutch society at this time. The painting's composition, with its open vista, reflects a self-conscious projection of Dutch power through its mastery of the seas and trade. It speaks to a progressive mindset, embracing expansion and global connection. To fully understand this painting, we need to research Dutch mercantile history and the art market of the time, consulting archives, trade records, and art criticism. Only then can we appreciate how Lingelbach's work actively participated in shaping a vision of Dutch identity.