Boerderij op een heuvel 1650 - 1699

Jacob van Ruisdael made this etching of a farm on a hill, likely in the mid-17th century. The image presents a vision of the Dutch countryside that was becoming increasingly popular at the time. This etching creates meaning through its use of light and shadow, and by presenting the natural world as both beautiful and wild. It's important to remember that the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age was undergoing rapid urbanization and commercial expansion. Artists like Ruisdael played a role in constructing an idea of Dutch identity that was rooted in the land, offering an escape from the pressures of urban life. Art historians consult period maps, land records, and other archival documents to understand how landscapes were managed, and the ways in which artists helped to shape ideas about nature and nationhood. Art is never made in a vacuum.