Kasteel Rhijnauwen 1701 - 1759

Cornelis Pronk made this washed pen and ink drawing of Kasteel Rhijnauwen. During Pronk’s time, the Dutch Republic was a major economic and artistic force, yet deeply stratified. Wealthy merchants and regents commissioned artists like Pronk to capture their estates, reinforcing their status. The drawing serves as both a topographical record and a carefully constructed image of power. Note how Pronk frames the castle; the surrounding moat and manicured landscape speak to controlled affluence, reflecting the values of a society built on trade and colonialism. Yet, such depictions often glossed over the labor and exploitation that enabled this wealth. Consider how the image invites us to reflect on the relationship between landscape, power, and identity in 18th-century Netherlands. The emotional resonance of the scene lies in its quiet assertion of dominance, a hallmark of its time.