Great Church on the Hill c. 17th century

Editor: This is Allart van Everdingen's etching, "Great Church on the Hill." It feels like such a dramatic landscape for a church! What can you tell me about it? Curator: The dramatic landscape is precisely the point. Consider the period: the Dutch Republic was defining itself, and landscape imagery often served to construct a sense of national identity and pride, sometimes subtly, sometimes overtly. Editor: So, the church’s presence is less about religion and more about… national pride? Curator: Not necessarily. The church could represent social order, or perhaps contrast the wildness of nature with the stability of societal institutions. How do you see the figures in the foreground fitting into this? Editor: Interesting. I hadn’t considered the people. Thanks for the new perspective! Curator: The intersection of landscape, society, and power is always worth considering.