Gezicht op de binnenplaats van het Hof te Dieren c. 1700

Pieter Schenk created this print of the courtyard of the Hof te Dieren. While the exact date isn't known, we know it was made sometime between 1660 and 1711. This image provides a window into the opulence and order of the Dutch elite during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. The architecture emphasizes symmetry and control, mirroring the social structures of the time, in which class distinctions were visibly expressed through dress, leisure, and even the ownership of dogs, as depicted here. It’s easy to imagine the conversations that might have occurred in this courtyard. We can speculate about the social hierarchies in play. Who had access to this space, and who was excluded? The image raises questions about power, privilege, and the visual markers of status in Dutch society. It captures a moment in time, but also invites us to consider the broader context of the Dutch Golden Age and its legacy.