Dorpsgezicht te Elden Possibly 1731 - 1737

Abraham de Haen the Younger created this drawing of Dorpsgezicht te Elden using pen in gray ink and brush in gray wash. De Haen was working during a period when the Dutch Republic was a major maritime power, with a global network of trade and colonies. This landscape drawing reflects a moment of relative peace and prosperity in the Netherlands, but it is important to remember that this wealth was built on the exploitation of enslaved people and colonized lands. The presence of the church in the village scene reminds us of the complex role that religion played in Dutch society, both as a source of community and moral guidance, and as a justification for colonialism and the subjugation of other peoples. De Haen’s quiet depiction of Elden invites us to contemplate the relationship between local identity and global power structures. How might we see this image differently if we knew more about the lives of the villagers who lived there, and how they were affected by the larger forces of history?