Zaagmolen 'Het Juffertje' in Zaandam 1631 - 1678

Hendrik Jacobsz Soeteboom created this etching of the Zaagmolen 'Het Juffertje' in Zaandam in the 17th century. The print depicts a sawmill, a type of mill that uses a wind-powered saw to cut wood. The Dutch Golden Age was a period of great economic and social change for the Netherlands. The Dutch economy was booming, and the country was becoming a major trading power. The sawmills were essential to the Dutch economy, providing the timber needed to build ships and houses. Zaandam was a major center of shipbuilding, and the sawmills in the area were crucial to the industry. This particular sawmill named 'The Virgin' may have been a reference to the Dutch East India Company, which was also known as the 'Virgin Company', which was the driving force behind the Dutch Golden Age. To understand the full context of this image, we can consult historical records, economic data, and social commentary from the time. Such sources provide insight into the cultural and institutional forces shaping artistic production in the Dutch Golden Age.