Gezicht op de stad Gerona in Catalonië 1659

Editor: This watercolour and ink work is titled 'View of the City of Gerona in Catalonia' by Nicolas Perelle, from 1659. There's a wonderful softness to it, a quiet beauty despite the formality of a city portrait. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: What immediately stands out is how Perelle positions the city, not just as an architectural marvel, but in deliberate contrast with the commoners, represented by what are likely Spanish soldiers marching the periphery of the city. This artwork reveals how power was structured in 17th-century Catalonia under Spanish rule. Do you notice how the orderly arrangement of buildings atop the rising hill confronts the loose lines representing the soldiers? Editor: I see what you mean! The colours also seem to contribute – the muted city tones against the pops of color worn by the onlooking commoners. Are you suggesting the print could be interpreted as social commentary? Curator: Absolutely! Through this bird's-eye view, Perelle presents us with an intentional hierarchy. Think about the purpose of cityscapes during this period. Were they merely representational, or were they also tools of asserting control, defining identity and belonging? It seems the City is intentionally distanced, out of reach to many of the commoners in this time. Editor: So, it's not just a pretty picture, but a visual document reflecting societal power dynamics. Curator: Precisely! It invites us to critically examine the relationship between urban spaces and the individuals who inhabit and interact with them, a crucial aspect of understanding any society, then or now. Editor: That gives me a completely new way of viewing historical art! I'll never look at a cityscape the same way again.