View of Egmond Castle, with the Outer Bailey to the Left c. 1646 - 1647

Roelant Roghman rendered 'View of Egmond Castle, with the Outer Bailey to the Left' in pen and brush with gray ink, capturing the castle's likeness. Dating back to the medieval era, Egmond Castle was a symbol of Dutch nobility and power. Roghman’s depiction of the castle as a ruin reflects a broader narrative of decline and transformation in Dutch society. The Eighty Years' War had ravaged the land, impacting the political landscape and the physical structures that once defined the region. Roghman, who lived during this period of upheaval, presents the castle not in its former glory, but as a poignant reminder of transience. We are reminded that history is not just a tale of kings and queens, but also of loss and change etched into the stones of our monuments. It serves as a reminder of the importance of understanding and preserving our collective past.