Rivierlandschap met hotel aan de kade c. 1850 - 1866

Jacobus Cornelis Gaal created this etching of a River Landscape with a Hotel on the Quay, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. The Romantic era saw an increased interest in the sublime power of nature, but also a changing sense of human society within it. The 'Hotel de Røland' sits prominently in the center of the image, perched between the river and the natural landscape behind it. The artist has created a composition that places the hotel as an intermediary structure between the natural world and the world of human commerce and travel. A small boat carries passengers across the river, suggesting the growth of tourism and trade along the river. Consider how the painting reflects the changing social and economic landscape of the Netherlands in the 19th century, with the rise of a wealthy merchant class and the growth of trade and travel. Looking at Gaal’s prints, drawings, and paintings in the archive can tell us a lot more about the social function of his art. By researching further, we can better understand the role of art as a reflection of changing social and economic conditions.