Gezicht op Esch in Noord-Brabant 1701 - 1759

Cornelis Pronk made this delicate pencil drawing of the village of Esch in the province of North Brabant. The Netherlands in the 18th century was a highly urbanized society, but artists took great interest in the countryside. This interest stemmed from the country’s unique political and social structures. Although the Dutch Republic was a commercial empire with colonies across the globe, it was also a nation of fiercely independent city-states with a strong attachment to local traditions. Topographical drawings like this one by Pronk thus embody a very particular sense of place. To fully understand this drawing, researchers consult local archives, travel accounts, and the records of institutions such as the Dutch East India Company. In doing so, we can appreciate how the Dutch understood their place in the world.