Burcht Zelhem nabij Mehr te Duitsland 1731

Abraham de Haen the second made this drawing of Burcht Zelhem near Mehr in Germany. At the time, the Dutch Republic was in its Golden Age, but by the mid-18th century when de Haen produced this work, that prosperity was in decline. Here we can see a quick sketch of the moated castle of Burcht Zelhem, located near the town of Mehr. This type of castle, with its imposing walls and towers, visually represents the power and authority of the nobility that resided within. De Haen's choice to depict it likely reflects the continuing importance of these figures in the social and political landscape, even as new economic forces were emerging. As art historians, we can examine estate records or travel journals from the time, or architectural surveys, to understand how such a building functioned as a centre of social control. The drawing reminds us that art does not exist in a vacuum but reflects the complex interplay of social forces.