Betoverde kasteel 1887 - 1888

This is "Betoverde kasteel" or "Enchanted Castle", an etching by Matthijs Maris, made during the late 19th century. Maris belonged to a generation of Dutch artists who, disillusioned by the rapid modernization of Europe, sought refuge in romantic, dreamlike landscapes. The image shows us a barely visible castle enveloped in mist, its form almost dissolving into the surrounding nature. Trees stand like silent sentinels, their reflections shimmering in the water. Maris’s soft, hazy technique evokes a sense of longing and melancholy. The artist once said, "What I paint is not what I see, but what I feel." This work moves away from traditional landscape art; it’s a deeply personal and emotional response to the world. Maris transforms the Dutch landscape into a space of reverie, inviting us to contemplate the mysteries of memory and imagination.