Gezicht op Buren 1727 - 1733

Abraham Rademaker made this print of Gezicht op Buren, or View of Buren, sometime between 1675 and 1735. It shows us a townscape complete with church tower, houses, trees, and even townspeople going about their day. Rademaker was one of many artists in the Dutch Golden Age who made a living by selling views of cities and towns. These prints were collected by wealthy merchants and landowners who wanted to show off their knowledge of the world. They remind us that the art market has always played a role in shaping what artists create. The cultural and economic context of the Netherlands at this time is crucial. It was a period of great wealth and expansion and this created a demand for images of both local and far-flung places. To understand this artwork more fully, we might look at maps and other historical documents. The meaning of art lies in its social and institutional context.