Gezicht op buitenplaats Breevecht 1832 - 1836

"Gezicht op buitenplaats Breevecht" is an etching made by Petrus Josephus Lutgers sometime in the 19th century. At first glance, this seems to simply depict a serene landscape. However, the scene is laden with societal implications of 19th-century Dutch life. Lutgers, born in 1808, lived during a time of significant social stratification, where the wealthy elite enjoyed idyllic country estates like Breevecht. This landscape, therefore, represents not just a place, but a lifestyle of privilege and leisure, sharply contrasted by the labor and lives of the working class. The figures in the boat quietly remind us of the labor upon which such leisure is built. How does Lutgers’ choice to include these figures affect our understanding of the scene? Does it romanticize or critique the societal structures of his time? As you look at this image, consider the stories it tells, and those it leaves untold. How does it shape our understanding of privilege, labor, and identity?