Stadsgezicht met kerk 1822 - 1893

Willem Troost created this watercolor sketch, titled 'Cityscape with Church,' in the Netherlands during the 19th century. It's a rather unassuming scene that depicts the local architecture in a somewhat muted palette. What can this small work tell us about the society that produced it? Well, the presence of the church in the vista speaks to the enduring influence of religion in Dutch life. Troost's style is quite traditional, reflecting the preferences of the art institutions of his time. The burgeoning art market, fuelled by the wealth of the Dutch middle class, created a demand for landscapes and cityscapes like this. For the historian, this image is a window into the past, a document of the visual culture of its time. By studying such artworks alongside other historical sources, we can gain a deeper understanding of the social and institutional forces that shaped artistic production.