Gezicht in de tuinen van de buitenplaats Zandbergen 1754 - 1820

Hermanus Numan created this watercolor painting, "View in the Gardens of the Zandbergen Estate," using watercolor and pencil on paper. Here, the delicate brushstrokes and translucent washes capture the interplay of light and shadow on the leaves and figures. These colors and form of the artwork evoke a sense of leisure and privilege. In this period, watercolor painting was associated with the upper classes and the emerging middle class, as it required leisure time and access to specialized materials like high-quality paper, pigments, and brushes. Notice how the artist depicts the figures in the garden. These are markers of social status. The act of strolling through manicured gardens becomes a display of wealth and taste. By focusing on the material and social context of this watercolor, we can gain a deeper appreciation of its significance. The painting transcends its aesthetic qualities, and becomes a window into the values and social dynamics of the time.