Coastal Scene 1650

Simon de Vlieger captured this Coastal Scene on a 30 by 39 cm canvas, sometime before his death in 1653. The Dutch Republic in this period was a maritime power and this painting shows the sources of its wealth. The visual codes of the work speak to the culture of maritime trade. Vlieger’s restrained palette and close observation of natural light create a sense of realism. This was a conscious choice. Dutch painting of this era broke with earlier traditions, and responded to a new mercantile class. The painting is also a product of its institutional context. Artists, then as now, were dependent on patrons and markets for their work. Vlieger's coastal scene reflects the values and interests of his patrons, celebrating the economic activity that made the Dutch Republic a world power. Historians draw on period sources, such as shipping records and merchants' accounts, to enrich our understanding of artworks like this. In doing so, we shed light on the complex interplay between art, society, and economic life.