Gezicht op Rhenen vanaf de overkant van de Rijn 1756

Jan Caspar Philips created this print of Rhenen from across the Rhine. Philips made this print during a time of significant economic and cultural change in the Netherlands. As the Dutch Republic transitioned from its Golden Age, there was an increasing interest in depicting local scenes and landscapes. Philips, active in the 18th century, was part of a generation that turned its attention to the Dutch landscape, reflecting a growing sense of national identity and pride. The detailed rendering of Rhenen, with its towering church and windmills, gives us insight into the importance of religion and industry to the region's inhabitants. Notice how Philips situated the viewer outside of the city, emphasizing an intimate connection to the land. The cows and figures along the riverbank underscore the rural character of the area, and perhaps the way the Dutch identify with agriculture.