Gezicht op kasteel Schalkwijk after 1710

This is an engraving of Gezicht op kasteel Schalkwijk, made by an anonymous artist. The castle looms large, a symbol of authority and power in the landscape. Notice how the castle is surrounded by water, a moat acting as both a defensive feature and a symbolic barrier. The idea of enclosure, of protection against the outside world, is a recurring motif throughout art history. Consider the walled gardens of medieval tapestries, offering a haven from the chaos of the world. But here, the ordered garden visible beyond the moat introduces a new element. It is a space of cultivated beauty, but it is also an assertion of control over nature, a theme that will be explored in the centuries to come. This tension—between protection and control, between nature and culture—engages viewers on a subconscious level, a powerful reminder of the complexities of human existence. The castle remains a potent symbol, reappearing and evolving across time.