Frederiksborg slot 1880s

This is Adolph Kittendorff's rendering of Frederiksborg Castle, an architectural marvel rendered in monochrome. Kittendorff, born in the 1820s, lived through a time of significant social and political change, as national identities were being forged and empires were expanding. Castles, of course, are potent symbols. They represent power, control, and the consolidation of wealth and authority. Historically, the very stones embody a gendered power, they are built, owned, and occupied almost exclusively by men. Yet, this image, by presenting the castle in a state of reflection – literally mirrored in the surrounding water, asks us to consider how power is mirrored, refracted, and perhaps even distorted through history. The image invites reflection. Consider also the role of the viewer – are we outside, looking in? Or somehow implicated in the structures of power that the castle represents? These are some of the questions that come to mind when I look at this serene, yet imposing image.