Houten brug bij huizen before 1815

Hermanus van Brussel created this etching titled 'Wooden Bridge near Houses' at the turn of the 19th century. Van Brussel, whose career coincided with a period of political and social upheaval in the Netherlands, often depicted serene landscapes. During this era, artists navigated a complex interplay between tradition and emerging social realities. Looking at this image I wonder about the identity of those who crossed this bridge. Were they landowners, peasants, merchants? The bridge itself seems a potent symbol of connection and division. It is a place of transit. But the bridge also sits between the viewer, standing on one side, and the houses on the other. There's a tension here between an idealized rural existence and the realities of daily life for different social classes. Although seemingly idyllic, the image invites us to reflect on the social and economic dynamics that shaped this Dutch landscape.