Plattegrond en gezicht op Canterbury en Kathedraal van Canterbury 1671 - 1676

Wenceslaus Hollar, a 17th-century Bohemian printmaker, created this detailed etching of Canterbury. Born in Prague, Hollar’s life was marked by the religious and political conflicts of the Thirty Years' War, a time of immense upheaval that profoundly impacted his artistic trajectory. Hollar’s landscapes and cityscapes, including this view of Canterbury, became vital visual records during a period of political and social transformation in Europe. In the upper section the panoramic perspective provides an elevated, almost detached view, while the lower section presents a street-level depiction of Canterbury, including the Christ Church Cathedral, inviting viewers into the everyday lives of its inhabitants. Notice how the rigid lines and calculated angles contrasts with the natural curves of the surrounding landscapes. The stark contrast in Hollar’s work reminds us of the ever-changing and often turbulent relationship between humanity and the world, captured through the lens of a migrant navigating a world in transition.