Riviergezicht met poortgebouw en kerk op oever 1746 - 1814

Carel Frederik Bendorp created this etching titled 'River View with Gatehouse and Church on the Shore' sometime in the 18th century. Bendorp, who lived through a tumultuous period of Dutch history marked by political upheaval and economic change, presents us with an intimate glimpse into the Dutch landscape. The detailed depiction of the church, the gatehouse, and the people in boats gives you a sense of the everyday life of the time. It's a scene that seems peaceful on the surface, but consider the societal structures that would have shaped those lives. The church, a central figure, represented not only spiritual guidance but also the power and social norms of the time. The working class, often absent in art, find themselves in the boats, suggesting their reliance on the river for their livelihoods. What does it mean to look at these ordinary, working class people going about their lives against a backdrop of institutional power? How might their stories challenge the conventional narratives of the time?