Gezicht op Burcht Rheinfels, bij Sankt Goar c. 1694 - 1697

Pieter Schenk created this etching, “Gezicht op Burcht Rheinfels, bij Sankt Goar,” to depict Rheinfels Castle, likely sometime between 1680 and 1711. Schenk, born in Germany and active in Amsterdam, lived in a world shaped by significant political and economic shifts. His identity as both German and Dutch might have influenced his artistic perspective. The image presents more than just a castle; it offers a glimpse into the power structures of the time. Castles weren't just residences, they were symbols of authority and control. Note how the image emphasizes the castle’s imposing presence over the landscape and figures. Who is invited into the frame and who is not? What does it mean to look up at power? What does it mean to be excluded from it? This etching invites us to consider the complex interplay between identity, power, and representation in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.