Boerderij met trapgevel aan de rand van een bos 1636 - 1687

Jacob Esselens created this drawing of a farm with a stepped gable near a forest in the 17th century. The Dutch Golden Age saw an unprecedented flourishing of art, science, and trade. This was also a period of complex social dynamics where depictions of everyday life, especially rural settings, became fashionable among the rising merchant class. Consider how Esselens portrays the relationship between the built environment and the natural landscape. The inclusion of a stepped-gable farmhouse at the edge of the forest could reflect the Dutch society’s efforts to manage and cultivate the land. Note how the artist renders the scene with a sense of tranquility and order, perhaps reflecting a desire for stability and prosperity. It's hard to miss the contrast between the wildness of the forest and the structured design of the farmhouse. What does this contrast tell us about the period's social and economic values?