Kasteel 1834 - 1876

Carel Christiaan Antony Last created this print of a castle, rendered in monochrome, embodying themes of heritage and habitation. The castle, with its imposing towers, is a symbol of power, a motif found across European art. Note the towers crowned with crosses, a gesture that links secular power to divine authority. These forms echo the medieval cathedrals, where the aspiration towards the heavens was expressed in stone. The castle's reflection shimmers in the moat—a mirror image—inviting a psychoanalytic reading. The mirroring alludes to themes of self-recognition and duality, deeply embedded in our subconscious. Consider the recurrence of such fortified structures throughout history and art—from illuminated manuscripts to grand oil paintings—each bearing witness to humanity’s enduring fascination with protection, legacy, and the imposing presence of the past.