“The Dutch Republic in the 17th century”
A 45 minutes lecture by Bert Wiskie. A vivid presentation of the most sophisticated society of that period and its culture.
A modern society
In the 17th century the Netherlands (‘The Republic’ ) showed many unique features. A self-assured and successful community that found its reason for existence in commerce and finance. Pious, but also cherishing freedom of conscience as the result of pragmatic considerations: business is our nature. Innovation and experiment found their way in all social activities. The Republic served as a precursor to the future. Starting off as a patchwork of various political and geographic entities the inhabitants constructed a national identity during the struggle with their Spanish ruler.
A new economic environment
The commercial nature of the Republic asked for towns with a particular layout. Markets for local goods and imported foods and timber from the Baltic region. A new businessmodel – the joint stock company – was introduced here with the United Dutch East-India Company (VOC). Foods, such as spices, coffee, tea and exotic products like tulips were distributed all over Europe. Dutch explorers established more than 600 tradingposts on Manhattan, in Brasil, South-Africa, India or even in isolated Japan. Huge sums were also allocated into projects of reclamation: the Dutch created their own environment. Freefarming was the remarkable outcome in these newly gained territories.
Modern social classes
Social classes in the Republic were defined in a modern way: by merit and income, not just by birth. The most outstanding social introduction was that of a broad and affluent middleclass. Professionals who could save some money and invest it into commercial ventures or paintings. Women were more liberated than elsewhere in Europe. Social institutions offered relief to the less fortunate in a society based on boom and bust capitalism.
Culture and science
Dutch Masters like Rembrandt, Vermeer, Hals and thousands of others reformulated the rules of painting after the period of the Italian Renaissance. Realism, introduced in the region of Flanders, and specialisation became the standards of the cultural frame in which painters had to survive. Ordinary people and their activities, winterlandscapes, domestic interiors, still lifes, maritime battles and large group portraits.
Interested in this fascinating story? Don’t hesitate to contact me.