The Dutch Republic famously played a prominent role on the global stage in the 17th century, with its capital city of Amsterdam at the center of trade in spectacular and profitable new commodities, including foreign goods such as porcelain, lacquerware, silks, birds of paradise, and gems. Witness the astounding diversity of 17th-century Dutch visual culture and learn about its role in the political formation of the burgeoning Republic from Claudia Swan, associate professor, Art History, Northwestern University.
