Gezicht op kasteel Walenburg, Nederlangbroek 1757

Hendrik Spilman created this print of Walenburg Castle in the province of Utrecht. Pictures like this were very popular in the Netherlands in the 18th century as a way to showcase the wealth and status of prominent families. The castle, with its imposing tower and surrounding moat, symbolizes power, and the figures on the bridge appear to admire the castle, reinforcing its importance. Spilman was an accomplished topographical artist. The province of Utrecht was one of the wealthiest in the Netherlands at this time, and these country estates were the center of social and economic life. The architecture and carefully planned landscape show a desire to display control over nature and assert social dominance through the ownership of land. If you want to learn more about the history of the Netherlands during this time, you might want to consult archives and estate records that give insight into the daily lives of the people who lived and worked here.