Gezicht op de Doelen in Amersfoort 1760

Paulus van Liender made this print of the Doelen in Amersfoort sometime around 1759. The Doelen were guild houses for the local civic guard, and served as both a gathering place and armoury. Prints like these offer insights into the social and cultural life of the Dutch Republic in the 18th century. Note the figures relaxing beneath the trees. This image presents a scene of bourgeois comfort and order. But what does it leave out? Where are the working people? How are social hierarchies made visible or invisible? The answers to such questions will not be found in the image itself, but in historical sources relating to Amersfoort society at the time. Understanding the social role of art demands that we look beyond aesthetics and consider the power dynamics at play in its creation and consumption. We must reflect on whose perspectives are privileged, and whose are marginalized.