Stadspoort met vrouw en hond before 1833

Johannes van Lexmond created this print of a city gate with a woman and dog, using etching. Lexmond was a Dutch artist working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, a time when the Netherlands was undergoing significant political and social upheaval. The print shows us a gate, a woman, and a dog. But it also suggests ideas about commerce and the people and animals that populate the Dutch Republic. The image creates meaning through visual codes, cultural references, and historical associations. Given the political and economic turmoil of the time, it's interesting to consider the gate's role, both literally and symbolically. Is it a barrier, a point of entry, or a marker of territory? The woman with her dog adds a human element to the scene, reminding us of the everyday lives of people living within and beyond the city walls. To understand this print better, we can look at the broader social and institutional context. What was the role of city gates in Dutch society at the time? How did artists like Lexmond engage with and comment on the social structures of their time? What can this print tell us about the public role of art in the Netherlands during a period of transition and change?