Gezicht op een boerderij 1596 - 1652

Claes Jansz Visscher created this ink drawing, ‘View of a Farmhouse,’ during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural growth for the Netherlands. This seemingly straightforward landscape, common in Dutch art, prompts us to consider the socio-economic realities of the 17th century. Visscher’s detailed rendering of the farmhouse reflects a society that valued land ownership and agricultural prosperity. But this idealized image obscures the labor and social hierarchies inherent in rural life, where wealth was concentrated in the hands of a few, while many toiled as farmhands. Consider the absence of human figures here. The tranquil scene invites viewers to project themselves into the landscape, fostering a sense of belonging and national pride. Yet this idyllic vision also excluded many, particularly women, the poor and the marginalized, whose experiences were far removed from this vision of pastoral harmony. As you reflect on ‘View of a Farmhouse’, consider how landscapes can simultaneously reveal and conceal the complex social relations that shape our understanding of place and identity.