Landschaft, auf dem Weg ein Herr und eine Dame mit einem Windhund 

Jacob Esselens created this drawing titled "Landscape, on the Way a Gentleman and a Lady with a Greyhound" sometime in the 17th century. Esselens lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a period defined by booming trade, scientific advances, and a flourishing of the arts. In this drawing, Esselens depicts an upper class couple strolling through a verdant landscape with their dog. During this time, landscape paintings became a way to express national pride, reflect social status, and demonstrate control over the natural world. But this drawing is more than just a picturesque scene; it subtly reinforces the social hierarchy of the time. The well-dressed couple’s leisurely walk contrasts sharply with the labor of those who worked the land, absent from Esselen's tranquil scene. While seemingly serene, it prompts us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out. It encourages us to reflect on how landscape art can be both a celebration of natural beauty and a reflection of societal values.