View of Arnhem c. 1644

Jan van Goyen created this oil on panel, titled 'View of Arnhem,' during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic prosperity and cultural flourishing in the Netherlands. Here, van Goyen presents a tranquil landscape, but we might also consider its depiction of labor and land. The figures harvesting in the foreground offer a glimpse into the lives of the working class. Are they landowners, or are they laboring for someone else? The vastness of the landscape and the smallness of the figures perhaps speaks to their relationship to the land. It might suggest a certain powerlessness, or perhaps the painting is celebrating the labor and connection of the people to the land. While seemingly straightforward, van Goyen’s painting invites us to consider the social dynamics embedded in the Dutch landscape. It is a reminder that landscapes are never just about the land; they are also about the people who live and work on it.