View of a Country House with Sowers in the Field c. 1610 - 1615

Hendrick Avercamp created this watercolor and pen drawing, "View of a Country House with Sowers in the Field," in the early 17th century. Avercamp, working in the Dutch Golden Age, gives us a glimpse into the agrarian life of the time. Note how the artist positions the country house as a backdrop to the daily lives of the people. The sower is bent over his work, chickens peck at the ground, and figures walk along the road. How do these ordinary tasks represent the economic structure of Dutch society? Avercamp was deaf and mute, conditions which may have heightened his visual acuity and attentiveness to the world around him. Look at the details in the landscape—the weathered textures of the buildings, the subtle gradations of tone in the sky. Can you discern Avercamp's sensitive rendering and almost tangible sense of place? The painting serves as a reminder of the value of everyday life.