The culture of the Netherlands in the 17th century

Johan Huyzing (1872-1945) is a Netherlands historian and a world -famous culturologist. To his most famous works, constantly reprinted in different countries - and, especially, most of all in his homeland and in Russia! - include autumn of the Middle Ages and a treatise Homo Ludens (playing person)

The Netherlands in the XVII century is the only country of Europe that during this period reaches the top simultaneously in all areas. The Dutch fleet is wandering around the world, accurate sciences, shipbuilding, agriculture are developing, Amsterdam becomes the center of world trade, more and more architectural masterpieces arise, channels and dams are being built. In the cities, their own schools of painting appear, from where such geniuses as Rembrandt Van Rain, Jan Vermier, Franc Hals, Jacob Ryosdal come from, the art of engraving and printing, Peter Sanredam reaches his peak. Theology and philosophy are developing (Benedict Spinoza, Rene Descartes) How did such a small and relatively distant swampy region of Europe, which were the Netherlands in the 17th century, to such an extent advanced as the state, the trading power and the focus of culture? Johan Huysing in the Essay Culture of the Netherlands in the 17th century (1941) gives a detailed analysis of the causes and peculiarities of the heyday of the republic. The emergence of this essay during the war, according to the author, was supposed to be spiritual support for the occupied nation, to remind her of the world glory of its culture.

The publication contains more than 150 reproductions of picturesque and graphic works of the Dutch masters of the XVII century. The book includes a bright satirical cycle of drawings by Johan Huysing, illustrating some chosen pages of the history of the Netherlands