Gezicht op de stallen aan de zuidzijde van Paleis Soestdijk 1695

This undated print, whose author is unknown, shows the stables on the south side of Soestdijk Palace. The palace began as a country estate in the 17th century and was later acquired by the Dutch Royal Family. The image depicts a picturesque scene of leisurely activity. Groups of people stroll, including a family with children and smartly dressed individuals with a dog. The buildings are framed by a screen of trees, and a low wall separates the grounds from the public space. These images of country estates and royal grounds circulated widely during the 18th century. They participated in a broader visual culture through which ideas of nation, class and political power were circulated and negotiated. As historians, we can examine such images as primary source documents, using estate records, architectural plans, and personal letters to understand the social and institutional contexts from which they emerged. Analyzing the production, distribution, and consumption of images like this allows us to understand the visual construction of power and social order in the Netherlands and beyond.