Gezicht op Alkmaar, 1670 1727 - 1733

Curator: Looking at this piece, it reminds me of postcards, doesn't it? Almost dreamlike, even though it's an image of a real place. Editor: We are looking at Abraham Rademaker’s "Gezicht op Alkmaar, 1670" or "View of Alkmaar, 1670", a drawing and engraving that resides in the Rijksmuseum. It provides a fascinating window into Dutch Golden Age cityscape traditions. The artwork, made between 1727 and 1733, gives insight into the political and economic structures of the period. Curator: Window is a good word. See the lines, so delicate, like someone sketched this with a feather! There’s this serenity. Even though it's super detailed with buildings, boats, clouds…everything's so still, so balanced. Editor: Precisely. The calm composition mirrors the prosperity and stability the Netherlands experienced in the 17th century, achieved through its powerful merchant class and extensive global trade. The inclusion of the "Boom Poort", the gate, shows Alkmaar was both fortified and open for commerce. Consider also the politics inherent in depictions of cityscapes – asserting civic pride, demonstrating power through artistic ownership. Curator: Mmm, it makes me want to stroll those canals, even now. I can almost smell the water and hear the seagulls…okay, my imagination is running away. Still, how about the human element? Editor: Ah yes, the figures! Though small, their presence speaks to the working class, their labor sustaining Alkmaar’s economy. Also consider what isn’t shown. Where are the representations of enslaved people who helped contribute to Dutch prosperity during this era? These omissions speak volumes about artistic choices shaped by societal biases and prevailing power structures. Curator: It is that sense of seeing this beautiful scene and immediately starting to deconstruct what’s in front of us and understand it a bit more profoundly than just accepting a pleasant picture, so to speak. I hadn't considered who is not being shown. Editor: Exactly! Even simple sketches like these have incredible historical layers worth excavating and investigating more deeply.