Ruïne van een toren 1621

"Ruïne van een toren" (Ruin of a Tower), an etching by Willem Pietersz. Buytewech, is a detailed depiction of a crumbling tower, likely a medieval castle or stronghold, set against a distant landscape. The artist, known for his topographical views and landscapes, captures the picturesque qualities of decay and ruin, with a sense of melancholic beauty, typical of the Dutch Golden Age. This small print (87 mm x 128 mm), housed in the Rijksmuseum, provides a glimpse into Buytewech’s fascination with the fading grandeur of past eras.