Gezicht op Ellecom en gezicht op het Huis te Dieren 1745 - 1792

Hendrik Spilman created this print of Ellecom and Huis te Dieren sometime in the 18th century. Spilman, who lived through the Dutch Golden Age, made detailed topographical works that documented the landscape during a period of economic decline and political tensions. These images offer insight into the relationship between the land, the people, and the architecture of the time. They present us with a particular view of Dutch society, in which country estates are shown alongside village life. How do these spaces shape identity? What narratives about class and social structure are woven into these landscapes? These images are not just records of places, but they're also reflections of cultural values, and the way people saw themselves in relation to the world around them. Spilman’s work invites us to contemplate the layers of history embedded within these scenes.