Gezicht op buitenplaats Duinvliet 1837 - 1844

Petrus Josephus Lutgers created this print of Duinvliet, an estate, during the Netherlands' transformation in the 19th century. Here, Lutgers gives us a glimpse into the lives of those who inhabited and labored on the estate. On the left, we see figures with a horse and cart. These are the workers whose toil sustained the lavish lifestyle embodied by the grand house. Lutgers invites us to consider their lives in contrast to the leisurely existence suggested by the estate itself. During this period, stark class divisions were often romanticized or overlooked in favor of idyllic landscapes, and it is not clear if this piece intends to critique the social inequalities of its time, or simply reflect them. The estate stands as a symbol of power and wealth, while the figures in the foreground represent the labor upon which such privilege was built. Their inclusion prompts us to reflect on the complex social fabric of the time.