Twee stadgezichten te Goes met de Nieuwe Poort en de Grote Markt 1786 - 1792

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this print of two cityscapes in Goes. He was working during a time of significant social change, as the Dutch Republic was on the cusp of revolution. In the upper portion of the print, we see the Nieuwe Poort, a waterway bustling with boats, perhaps suggesting the importance of trade and commerce to the city's identity. Below is the Grote Markt where we see people gathered, seemingly engaged in commerce and social interaction. The print offers a glimpse into the daily life of the citizens of Goes and also highlights how the city saw itself. However, the print also silences certain aspects of the city's identity. Where are the working classes? Where are the diverse ethnic groups that contribute to the city's fabric? What we are left with is a romanticized version of Dutch society that tells us as much about what it includes as what it excludes.