Marktplein te Goch, 1737 1760

Paulus van Liender made this etching of Marktplein te Goch in 1737. The image depicts daily life and the built environment of Goch, a town now in the northwest corner of Germany. Goch’s town square is framed by several prominent buildings. A church on the left competes for attention with the town hall in the center, each structure topped by a soaring spire that implies the intertwined nature of civic and religious life. The buildings’ architecture suggests the affluence of the town and the solid presence of long-standing institutions. The social life of the town is evoked by the figures populating the square, including people walking, talking, and leading carts. Historical records and architectural studies would help us better understand the significance of these buildings, and of the square itself. In this way we can discover how art can connect to history and cultural life.