Gezicht op kasteel Batenburg 1740

Hendrik Spilman created this print, titled "Gezicht op kasteel Batenburg," using etching techniques. Spilman was a child of the Enlightenment, a period when the Dutch Republic was a major center for trade and cultural exchange. Yet, despite its wealth, Dutch society was highly stratified. Spilman, as an artist, occupied a unique position, able to observe and interpret the social dynamics of his time. The print captures an imposing view of Batenburg Castle, yet in the foreground, we see ordinary figures strolling casually. What does it mean to show the castle in this way? Is it a symbol of power, or merely a picturesque backdrop? And what of the castle's history? Previously destroyed in 1672 by French troops, its resurrection speaks to the endless cycles of power, destruction, and resilience. Spilman’s etching invites us to consider the layers of history and meaning embedded in this landscape, and how power is always mediated through the everyday lives of its inhabitants.