Landschap met gezicht op een stad c. 1660 - 1670

Cornelis Elandts made this landscape with a view of a city in the 17th century using etching. The city in question is Deventer, in the Netherlands. Elandts’ print gives us an idea of what it meant to live in a prosperous Dutch city in the Golden Age. The steep roofs and orderly houses are indicative of a structured society, dominated by merchants and tradesmen, with the church playing a central role. The scene betrays a desire for order and balance, which are values that are also reflected in Dutch society. Prints such as these were not merely documentary but acted as agents in constructing civic pride. To understand this image better, historians might consult period maps and civic archives. These sources help us to understand not only the layout of Deventer but the social structures that gave rise to the image itself.