Gezichten op kasteel Rouwkoop, Voorschoten en kasteel Raephorst, Wassenaar 1757

Hendrik Spilman created this print of Rouwkoop Castle, Voorschoten, and Raephorst Castle, Wassenaar, sometime between his birth in 1721 and his death in 1784. In the 18th century, the Dutch Republic was a society defined by its complex class structures and burgeoning capitalist economy. Prints like this one served a crucial role in visualizing and reinforcing the social hierarchy. The detailed depiction of these stately homes not only catered to the vanity of the wealthy landowners but also promoted an idealized image of rural life and aristocratic virtue. The clean lines and orderly composition reflect the Enlightenment emphasis on reason and order, while the presence of figures in the foreground underscores the relationship between the inhabitants and their land. To truly understand this print, we must consider the archives, estate records, and social histories of the period. These resources allow us to interpret this artwork not just as a pretty picture, but as a window into the social values and power structures of the Dutch Golden Age.