The Cottages at the Bank 1621 - 1675

Allart van Everdingen created this etching titled ‘The Cottages at the Bank’ in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-17th century. It is a landscape dominated by rugged topography, dense forest, and two rustic buildings next to two figures. The Dutch Golden Age saw artists exploring secular themes, and landscape painting became a popular genre reflecting the nation's growing wealth and connection to the natural world. Everdingen's choice to depict a somewhat wild, almost Scandinavian scene is intriguing. It may reflect a growing interest in the exotic and untamed, contrasting with the highly cultivated Dutch landscape. The cottages suggest a human presence, perhaps a commentary on the relationship between humanity and nature. Is it harmonious, or is man attempting to tame the wilderness? To delve deeper, it would be fascinating to research Dutch trade routes of the time and the cultural perceptions of foreign lands. Through such research, we can understand the significance of landscape as a projection of cultural values.