Gezicht op de Sint Urbanuskerk te Bovenkerk met op het water een zeilscheepje 1887

Elias Stark created this etching titled 'View of the Sint Urbanuskerk in Bovenkerk with a sailing boat on the water' sometime around 1887. Stark, who was of Jewish heritage, lived through a time when Jewish people in the Netherlands were gaining more rights, but still faced discrimination. This landscape, with its tranquil church and simple boat, evokes a sense of peace. Yet, knowing Stark's background, the image might also suggest a yearning for stability and belonging within a society that often marginalized him. Stark made a name for himself creating landscape art, an art genre that became more popular in the Netherlands in the 19th century. Rather than grand historical or mythological scenes, artists turned to the beauty of the Dutch countryside. The location itself—Bovenkerk—adds another layer. Churches, like the Sint Urbanuskerk, were central to community life, but for someone like Stark, they also represented the dominant culture from which he was excluded. The lone sailboat could be seen as a symbol of personal freedom but also of isolation. Stark's landscapes are not just pretty pictures; they're quiet reflections on identity and place.