Het huis van Domburg in Middelburg 1744 - 1786

Dirk Verrijk made this wash drawing of the House of Domburg in Middelburg. The Dutch Republic in the 18th century was a complex tapestry of wealth and poverty, shaped by its global trade and colonial endeavors. Verrijk's detailed streetscape invites us to consider the hierarchies of labor and leisure. Note the figures in the foreground: some are actively working, while others appear to be resting. What do these juxtapositions reveal about the social fabric of the city? Are they simply genre scenes, or do they reflect the realities of a society grappling with disparities in wealth and opportunity? Consider also the perspective Verrijk employs; framing the scene through an arch, he creates a sense of distance, as if observing the daily life of Middelburg from a removed vantage point.