Blick auf den Wachturm _Belvédère_ im Nijmegen 

Joseph van den Kerckhove created this drawing of the Belvédère watchtower in Nijmegen, likely in the late 17th century, using pen and gray ink with gray wash. The Belvédère, an imposing structure, looms over the landscape, a symbol of power and control within the Dutch Republic. Consider the cultural context: the Dutch Golden Age was in full swing, marked by burgeoning trade, scientific advancements, and artistic innovation, yet it was also a time of social stratification and colonial expansion. Kerckhove's choice to depict the watchtower may subtly address these themes. Is he celebrating Dutch power, or perhaps critiquing the structures of authority? To truly understand this image, we delve into historical records, maps, and social histories of Nijmegen. The meaning of art resides not just in its aesthetic qualities, but in its complex relationship to the society that produced it.