Gezicht vanuit Kasteel Zuilenstein op Amerongen 1682 - 1726

Daniël Stopendaal created this print, titled *View from Zuilenstein Castle on Amerongen*, around the turn of the 18th century. It offers us a bird's-eye view of the Dutch countryside, a landscape deeply entwined with issues of class and identity in the Netherlands' Golden Age. Stopendaal's print reflects the immense economic prosperity of the time, yet it also serves as a reminder of the vast disparities in wealth. From our vantage point at the affluent Zuilenstein Castle, we observe the meticulously cultivated lands and the charming village of Amerongen. Consider how the idealized portrayal of rural life contrasted with the realities faced by many peasants and farmers. In a society shaped by mercantilism and colonialism, the wealth that supported such idyllic scenes was often generated through exploitative practices. How might the people living in this landscape have regarded their own place in the world? This image speaks to the complexities of Dutch identity, shaped by both prosperity and exploitation.