Gezicht op het Muiderslot 1827 - 1875

Paulus Lauters created this print of Muiderslot castle. As we stand here looking at this placid scene, I want you to consider the layers of history embedded in such a place. Castles have long served as symbols of power and control. They reflect societal structures related to class and governance. Who lives inside and who is kept outside? In Dutch collective memory, Muiderslot is associated with the medieval, cruel Count Floris V, who was imprisoned and murdered here in 1296. The castle thus evokes themes of violence and injustice, but also of national identity and heritage. Prints like this one played a role in shaping the collective imagination, romanticizing historical narratives for a growing middle class. I find myself wondering: what stories do we choose to tell about our past, and whose perspectives are included or excluded? Perhaps Lauters wants us to reflect on the legacies of power and how they continue to shape our present.