Uitkijktoren en een man met vier zwijnen 1586 - 1630

Isaak Major created this etching of a watchtower and a man with four pigs sometime between the late 16th and early 17th centuries, a period of significant transformation in Europe's social and political landscape. The watchtower, likely used for military or civic surveillance, stands as a symbol of power and control. The figures climbing the tower point to social hierarchy and labour. Below, a man tends to his swine, rooting them in the everyday realities of rural life. The contrast between these elements suggests an ongoing tension between the ruling authorities and the common folk. During this period, the Netherlands was undergoing a period of intense urbanization. Looking at city records, maps, and other period documents can help us understand how urban spaces like watchtowers were constructed and how people moved through these landscapes. With continued research we can see this image as a reflection of a society grappling with new forms of power and social division.