Gezicht op het Molenwater te Middelburg 1751 - 1760

Jan Caspar Philips made this print of the Molenwater in Middelburg. The image reflects the rise of the Dutch Republic. It was a period marked by increasing trade, urbanization, and a growing merchant class, whose impact is visible in Philips' choice of subject matter: a cityscape in the province of Zeeland. Though the scene appears calm, the Molenwater was at the center of Middelburg's economic activity. The composition invites us to consider the relationship between the city's inhabitants and their environment. Who had access to the waterfront, and who was excluded? The clothing of the people suggests a certain level of prosperity, subtly alluding to the colonial networks that fueled the Dutch Golden Age. Philips' print prompts us to reflect on the complex relationship between progress, representation, and historical narratives. It speaks to the power dynamics that shaped both the city of Middelburg and the world beyond.