Overval op een reiskoets 1669

Nicolaes van Lijnhoven created this etching, "Overval op een reiskoets," sometime before his death in 1702. The image depicts the robbery of a horse-drawn carriage, a motif that speaks to the social anxieties of the time. Made in the Netherlands, it reflects the growing economic prosperity of the Dutch Golden Age. The country flourished as a center of trade and commerce. As wealth increased, so did concerns about its distribution and the potential for social unrest. The prevalence of highway robbery was a real threat, as well as a potent symbol of social disruption. Lijnhoven's choice of subject matter invites viewers to reflect on the social order. Visual sources like pamphlets or news reports may shed light on contemporary attitudes towards wealth and crime. Such historical context is crucial for understanding the social commentary embedded in this image.