De Kleine Hagen, bestaande uit drie delen 1675

Christiaan Hagen made this print, ‘De Kleine Hagen, bestaande uit drie delen’, in 1675. The print celebrates Leiden as a thriving urban center, and we can consider it as an expression of civic pride. Created during the Dutch Golden Age, this work reflects the era’s burgeoning interest in cartography and topographical representation. The panoramic view, along with the detailed map, emphasizes the city’s order and prosperity, reflecting the values of a society that prized commerce and civic responsibility. The choice of printing as a medium speaks to the growing importance of accessible information and the democratization of knowledge during this period. To fully understand this print, we can examine city archives, period maps, and historical accounts to understand how Leiden saw itself and how it wished to be seen by others. Art history reminds us that images are never neutral, and they are always shaped by social and institutional forces.