Stadsgezicht met een reclamebord op een dak 1890 - 1946

Cornelis Vreedenburgh made this pen drawing of a cityscape with a billboard on a roof, at a time when commercial advertising was becoming ever more present in public spaces. The image captures a moment of transition in Dutch society, probably around the 1920s or 30s. The rise of consumer culture and the increasing visibility of advertising in urban landscapes were beginning to change the way people experienced their environment. The skyline is starting to be as much about commerce as living. We can see how new commercial possibilities shape the very architecture of the city. This challenges previous notions of civic space and artistic representation. To fully understand this drawing, we might want to research Dutch urban development in the early 20th century. We can also look at the history of advertising in the Netherlands, and the changing role of public space in Dutch society. Considering the social and institutional contexts helps us grasp the full meaning of Vreedenburgh's work.