Tekstblad bij boekillustratie 1723

Roeland van Leuve made this print as a book illustration. It depicts an idyllic landscape, but such images were often laden with cultural meanings about Dutch identity and the relationship between the city and the countryside. This landscape, with its rising sun, embodies the cultural and economic values of the Netherlands. We see a blend of nature and human activity, a winding canal which would have been an important form of transport and trade. The rising sun might symbolize progress and enlightenment, values embraced by the Dutch Republic during its Golden Age. The detailed rendering of the scene also reflects a deep appreciation for the natural world. As art historians, we look at the way images construct meaning. Investigating how these landscapes were received at the time, and what they meant for different social classes, allows us to understand the public role of art in shaping cultural values and national identity.