Pieter Idserts made this drawing of boats on the water with pen in grey ink and brush in grey wash. The network of waterways in the Netherlands was essential to the economic structure of the Dutch Republic. This drawing, reminiscent of a fan, presents us with a detailed rendering of a busy port. The artist’s sharp observational skills allow us to imagine the sounds and smells of the harbor. The Dutch Golden Age was a time of unprecedented growth in trade and commerce, as well as the arts and sciences. Drawings like this reflect the values of this era, the economic and the artistic intertwined. The artist's choice of subject matter suggests a sense of pride in the achievements of the Dutch Republic. We can learn more about this period and the important function of waterways by consulting historical maps, and shipping records from the period.