Gezicht op de zijkant en de voorkant van Huis ter Nieuburch te Rijswijk vanuit het westen 1697

Pieter Schenk created this print of Huis ter Nieuburch in Rijswijk, likely around the turn of the 18th century, using etching and engraving. The image presents a detailed view of the palace from the west, capturing the architecture and the surrounding grounds, bustling with carriages and figures. Huis ter Nieuburch was the site of the Treaty of Rijswijk in 1697, a significant event in European political history that concluded the Nine Years' War. This print can be understood as a visual record of a place that held considerable diplomatic importance. Schenk's work reflects the cultural and political climate of the Dutch Republic, a period marked by both economic prosperity and international conflict. The detailed rendering of the palace and its grounds speaks to the Dutch Republic's interest in commemorating sites of national pride and historical significance. Art historians often consult archives and historical records to uncover the social context of such images. Examining documents related to the Treaty of Rijswijk, for example, could illuminate the political motivations behind creating and circulating such imagery.