Riviergezicht c. 1841 - 1865

Petrus Johannes Schotel made this drawing of a river view in the Netherlands sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The drawing, now in the Rijksmuseum, is rendered in faint pencil lines. The image reminds us of the economic importance of waterways to Dutch culture. Even now, the Dutch landscape is crisscrossed by canals and rivers, and the view in this drawing speaks to the vital role of these waterways to trade. Schotel has given us a glimpse of a small riverside village. We see the buildings where the merchants and sailors conduct their business and the masts of the ships that transport their wares. We can only speculate about Schotel's intentions when making this sketch. Was he a conservative, nostalgic for a world about to disappear with the rise of industry? Or was he a progressive, eager to embrace the new opportunities that technology offered? Historical research can help us better understand the social context in which art is made and the role it plays in shaping our understanding of the world.