Molens bij Haarlem 1763

Johannes Swertner created this print of windmills near Haarlem in 1783. The Dutch Golden Age, which saw the rise of the merchant class, had created a new kind of patronage, as well as an interest in secular subjects like landscapes. Here, the figures in the foreground are dwarfed by the imposing windmills, but they provide a glimpse into the social structure of the time. On the left, a figure trudges along with a pack on their back, while another rides on horseback. In the foreground, several figures are seen with donkeys. These details offer a glimpse into the hierarchies of 18th-century Dutch society. The print doesn’t just show a pretty view, but also acknowledges how different people experience and move through the same landscape. It invites us to consider the stories of those whose labor and lives are often overshadowed by grand narratives.