Kenneth Clark's Civilisation 08 The Light of Experience

Light, the light of early morning, the light of Holland. It spreads over the flat lands, it's reflected in the canals. It picks out distant towers and spires. Likewise for all the Low Countries. That simplicity of light fills both the soul and mind with life-giving images and thoughts. It makes clear and full what is usually hidden and empty. No shadow over desire or longing here. There is light, the darkness is gone. The riches of the flat lands flow over the dykes and spread across the world. They still do. Go and see paintings by Rubens, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, etc. in museums around the world. Money came from Brugge, Gent, Antwerpen, Amsterdam, Rotterdam, etc. A Baruch Spinoza from Portugal or a Charles Stewart from England, they were all refugees in Holland or Flanders. No, it's not a simple story. For one, although the trade with the Far East was the more famous of the VOC's exploits, the main source of wealth for the Republic was in fact its trade with the Baltic states and Poland. Look then anew and discover the real magic of the Low Countries.
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