Gezicht op een ruïne 1682

"Gezicht op een ruïne" (View of a Ruin), an etching by Dutch artist Arnold Houbraken (1660-1719) depicts the crumbling remains of a building, likely a monastery, set against a backdrop of trees. This small work, part of Houbraken's series *Der Wereld* (The World), exemplifies the 17th-century Dutch fascination with ruins and their evocative power. The etching's fine lines and delicate shading create a sense of melancholy and transience, inviting viewers to contemplate the passage of time and the fragility of human structures. The piece is currently held in the Rijksmuseum, Amsterdam.