Boerenerf met kippen 1620

Matthäus Merian etched this depiction of a farmyard scene, titled "Boerenerf met kippen," in the Netherlands during the 17th century. The image presents a humble scene of rural life: chickens peck at the ground in front of simple thatched-roof houses and a figure stands passively in the background. What might such a seemingly straightforward image tell us? Consider the period in which it was made. The 17th century in the Netherlands was a time of immense economic expansion, a period known as the Dutch Golden Age. The Dutch East India Company was at its peak, and art patronage shifted from the church and aristocracy to a rising merchant class. Although this etching looks like a documentary image, it may reflect a nostalgic view of rural life in the face of growing urbanization and commerce. To understand this image better, we can look at how the Dutch landscape tradition helped shape national identity, particularly through the promotion of rural life and values.