Vergezicht in Gelderland 1650 - 1660

Nicolaes Maes made this drawing, "Vergezicht in Gelderland," in the Netherlands in the second half of the 17th century, using pen and brown ink. Maes was a pupil of Rembrandt, and he later returned to his hometown of Dordrecht, a place with a strong tradition of landscape painting. At this time, the Dutch Republic was enjoying a "golden age," where advancements in trade and science were accompanied by a flowering of the arts. As art historians, when we look at a drawing like this, we should think about how Dutch landscape painting helped construct a sense of national identity. This drawing captures a panoramic view of the Gelderland countryside. It presents a vision of the Netherlands as a prosperous, well-ordered society. Artists like Maes were instrumental in creating and circulating images of this landscape, thus contributing to a shared sense of place and history. By researching Dutch history, and studying the visual culture of the Dutch Golden Age, we can understand the important role played by artists and institutions in shaping the nation's image.