Landscape with Figures 1651

Jan van Goyen made this drawing, Landscape with Figures, with pen and brown ink and gray wash in the Netherlands. At this time, the Dutch Republic was experiencing a boom in trade and its cities were growing fast. Van Goyen renders a common scene. He shows the ordinary life of people who lived and worked along the waterways that were the lifeblood of the Dutch economy. The detailed rendering of the buildings, the figures, and the landscape itself constructs a sense of place and provides a record of 17th-century Dutch life. Note how van Goyen pays attention to the architecture of the buildings, the clothing of the figures, and the boats used for transportation. By studying images like this alongside archival material such as maps, census records, and economic data, historians can gain insight into the economic, social, and cultural history of the Dutch Republic. Artworks are invaluable resources for understanding the past.