Gezicht op Leersum en gezicht op kasteel Moersbergen, Doorn 1774

Hendrik Spilman created this print of Leersum and Moersbergen castle in the eighteenth century, capturing the Dutch countryside in a time of significant social and economic change. The Dutch Golden Age had passed, and while the Netherlands remained a major economic power, the gap between the wealthy elite and the working class was widening. This print offers us a glimpse into the spatial representation of social hierarchy. The upper image captures the village of Leersum, dominated by the church, representing the central role of religion in community life. Below, the imposing Moersbergen Castle signifies power, wealth, and nobility. Spilman’s detailed rendering invites us to consider how landscapes reflect and reinforce social structures. These images present an ordered, idealized view, yet one wonders about the lives of those who lived and labored in the shadows of these structures. By juxtaposing the village and the castle, Spilman subtly comments on the contrasting realities within Dutch society, inviting us to reflect on the complex relationship between place, power, and identity.