Boerenwoningen c. 1780 - 1800

Barend Hendrik Thier made this drawing of farmhouses using graphite and grey wash. The drawing depicts two rural dwellings in what was then the Batavian Republic, present-day Netherlands, during a time of political upheaval. The late 18th century saw the rise of Patriot movement, seeking democratic reforms and challenging the old order. Visual codes of rural life and local identity became important. The drawing’s seemingly straightforward depiction of farmhouses could be viewed as a comment on the virtues of the common people in contrast to the ruling elite. Institutional histories also influence how we see this artwork. The Patriot movement was eventually suppressed, and the Batavian Republic fell under French control. Thier's drawing serves as a historical document, reflecting a society in flux. To understand this drawing more fully, we might consult archives, political pamphlets, and local histories. The meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.