Gezichten op de landschappen ten oosten van Haarlem 1762 - 1763

Cornelis van Noorde created these three ink drawings, entitled 'Views of the landscapes east of Haarlem', offering glimpses into the 18th-century Dutch countryside. Van Noorde's detailed renderings of the rural landscape invite us to consider the cultural values attached to the land. During this period, the Dutch Republic was undergoing significant social and economic changes, with a growing emphasis on agricultural production and trade. These landscapes capture a sense of pastoral harmony, yet they also hint at the economic activities that shaped the region. The scenes of farms, windmills, and grazing cattle, reflect the labor and industry of the local population. The detailed architectural depictions and clear skies lend a sense of order and control to the landscape. How do these images reflect the relationship between the land and the people who lived and worked there? What do these landscapes tell us about the cultural values of the time, and the way in which the Dutch perceived their environment?