Editing Neebrachters (section)

== ART AND ARCHITECTURE ==
Art in the Republic has flourished in the last century, despite the Walderian Iconoclasm which essentially destroyed the market for religious imagery within the provinces. Painting has come to the forefront as the pinnacle of Neebracht high culture, with the local masters taking influence from innovations among the artists of the Cliffs. With the departure from religious subject matter, the focus of painting in the Republic has shifted towards depictions of everyday life, though especially the more debaucherous side of life in the cities; minstrels, drunks and courtesans are the most popular and enjoyed by the burgeoning middle class in the Republic. Portraiture is also commonplace, but it is reserved more for the upper echelons of society, especially the wealthier artisans and merchants.

Due to the problematic terrain of the Republic, the Neebrachters have been forced to adapt to architecture and, through innovation of land reclamation practices, possess some of the most skilled engineers within the Empire. An elaborate network of dykes and seawalls between the Zuildegarde and Doornbjelt isles, which provide a natural barrier, protect the mainland from flooding and in recent years, many acres of land have been claimed from the sea through the creation of polders through this careful system of drainage and flood prevention.

Neebracht building is sober in all respects, and despite the vast inflow of wealth into the region, remains relatively austere with a heavy reliance on wood and brick construction with narrow houses and warm-painted facades. Neebracht cities are often considered to be claustrophobic, with tightly packed buildings frequently lining crisscrossing canals and water lanes that enable ease of transport of commercial goods through their cities. In the countryside, buildings are generally larger, and the picturesque sight of the windmill dots the farmlands.