Gezicht op de Markt te Middelburg 1786 - 1792

Carel Frederik Bendorp’s “View of the Market in Middelburg” offers us a window into the economic and social life of the Dutch Republic. Bendorp, born in the mid-18th century, lived through a period of economic decline and political upheaval, and his work reflects the changing dynamics of Dutch society. This print presents a bustling marketplace, filled with vendors, shoppers, and various forms of transportation. But what does it tell us about the social hierarchy of the time? Are the figures depicted representative of all members of society, or are certain groups excluded or marginalized? The architecture, too, speaks volumes. The grand buildings surrounding the marketplace symbolize wealth and power, but who had access to these spaces? How did class distinctions shape the urban landscape? Consider this image as more than just a snapshot of a marketplace, but as a mirror reflecting the complex realities of 18th-century Dutch society.