Hofsteden bij Haarlem 1763

Hendrik Spilman created this print, "Hofsteden bij Haarlem," offering us glimpses into the Dutch countryside. The etchings showcase estates near Haarlem, likely commissioned by wealthy landowners who possessed them. These aren't just landscapes; they're documents of power and privilege. In the 18th century, the Dutch Republic was a society defined by stark class divisions. Spilman's prints reflect the lives of the elite, those who could afford to commission such works, while the working class, who labored on these estates, remain unseen, absent from the narrative. There is a certain emotional distance, perhaps mirroring the social distance prevalent at the time. These neat, orderly landscapes reveal as much by what they exclude as by what they depict. Spilman invites us to consider whose stories are told and whose are left out of the picture.