Gezicht op Dordrecht 1630 - 1691

Aelbert Cuyp sketched this view of Dordrecht using graphite. Cuyp, living during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic and cultural growth for the Netherlands, often depicted tranquil Dutch landscapes. However, this sketch stands out. It's not the serene landscape we might expect. Instead, we see studies of people alongside market scenes which draw us into the lived experiences of ordinary people. How were the lives of women different from men? In the lower left of the sketch, a woman and child stand next to a group of men, could they be purchasing goods or waiting for someone? What economic opportunities were available to the people of Dordrecht, and how did class affect daily life? While Cuyp's finished paintings often presented an idealized view of Dutch life, this sketch offers us an intimate glimpse into the complexities of identity and society in the 17th century.