Gezicht op het stadhuis te Aken 1786 - 1792

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this print of the town hall in Aachen. It’s a built environment but the city is still quite organic. The town hall is front and center, and the people in the image seem to go about their business as the gears of government churn behind them. Made sometime in the 18th century, this piece captures the growing sense of civic pride. It highlights the seat of power and, just as importantly, the people that power serves. The details in this print – the architectural style, the clothing of the figures, even the way the light falls on the buildings – are all clues to understanding the social and cultural values of the time. To fully appreciate this work, we might look at city planning documents from the time period or even local newspapers. What emerges is a picture of a society in transition, grappling with ideas about community, governance, and progress. Art, here, is a mirror reflecting these transformations.