Scheveningen 1741 - 1820

Abraham Delfos created this print of Scheveningen, a coastal village in the Netherlands, sometime between 1751 and 1820. Delfos lived during a time of significant social stratification and economic change in the Netherlands. In this seemingly simple landscape, we are invited to observe the life of a seaside community. The people are arranged across a spectrum of social classes, from those riding in horse-drawn carriages to the common folk walking with their dogs. Delfos subtly captures the social hierarchy of the time, embedding class distinctions within the very fabric of the landscape. It is hard to know exactly Delfos's intentions, but the emotional pull of this artwork is clear. It's a meditation on community, on belonging, and on the ways in which our identities are shaped by our surroundings and social positions. The artwork challenges us to reflect on the narratives we construct about ourselves and others.