Two Fir Trees near Cottages c. 1645 - 1656

Allart van Everdingen created this print, “Two Fir Trees near Cottages,” during the Dutch Golden Age, a period marked by unprecedented economic prosperity and artistic innovation in the Netherlands. But what does it mean to idealize nature in a society built on global trade and colonial expansion? Everdingen, who traveled to Norway, was known for popularizing Scandinavian landscapes in Dutch art. Here, the cottages nestle amongst the fir trees and rocky terrain. But note the two small figures in the foreground. Their presence adds a human element to the grandeur of nature. We might ask ourselves: Who are these people? Are they inhabitants of this landscape, or are they merely passing through? This print invites us to consider the relationship between humanity and the natural world, especially as it was viewed through the Dutch perspective during a time of exploration, settlement, and expanding global power. It captures both the allure and the impact of human presence on these landscapes.