Opgravingen oude grondvesten Utrecht 1809 - 1843

Cornelis van Hardenbergh made this etching of the excavation of old foundations in Utrecht. The print depicts the unearthing of the past as a public spectacle. In the Netherlands, at this time, there was an increasing interest in national history, and the remnants of the past were seen as a source of national pride. This etching, therefore, presents the excavation site as a stage upon which Dutch history is being brought to light. The buildings in the background are a reminder of the continuity of Dutch society. The etching employs visual codes that were common in Dutch landscape painting, but it also presents the viewer with an image of a society that is actively engaged in the process of understanding its own past. It represents not just the foundations of Utrecht, but also the foundations of Dutch national identity. Studying such images helps us to understand the social and cultural values of the time, using resources like historical societies and local archives.