Gezicht op Kasteel Duurstede 1703 - 1765

Jan van Vianen created this print of Duurstede Castle in the early 18th century, capturing the architecture and landscape of the Netherlands during the Dutch Golden Age. The print reflects a society deeply invested in its own image and legacy. During this period, the Netherlands was a major maritime power with a thriving merchant class, and this economic prosperity fueled a cultural obsession with depicting wealth, power, and status. The castle itself is a symbol of authority, and its detailed rendering speaks to a desire to document and celebrate Dutch heritage. However, we might also ask whose stories are left out? The print focuses on the elite, and the lives of ordinary people who lived and worked in the shadow of this castle are notably absent. What does it mean to monumentalize power without acknowledging the labor and social structures that support it? This image invites us to consider the complexities of representation and the silent narratives that lie beneath the surface of history.