Strandgezicht met op de voorgrond een groep vissers 1594 - 1632

Jan Porcellis created this drawing of a beach scene with a group of fishermen in the early 17th century. It captures a moment of daily life along the Dutch coast, reflecting the economic importance of fishing to the Netherlands at the time. Porcellis's choice to depict fishermen is telling. In the rapidly urbanizing and commercializing Dutch Republic, images of rural labor served as a reminder of the nation's connection to the land and sea. It shows a society still dependent on maritime industries. The naturalism of the scene, with its focus on the activities of ordinary people, aligns with the broader cultural values of the Dutch Golden Age. By studying archival records, such as shipping logs, tax documents, and municipal ordinances, we can contextualize these kinds of scenes within the social and economic history of the Dutch Republic. In this way we can appreciate the public role of art in representing and reinforcing Dutch national identity.