Gezicht op Huis te Swieten, 1607 1725 - 1803

Abraham Rademaker made this etching of the Huis te Swieten sometime between his birth in 1675 and his death in 1735. This detailed rendering of a Dutch manor house surrounded by a moat gives us insight into the cultural values of the Dutch Republic during the early modern period. The symmetry and order in the architectural details reflect the Dutch emphasis on reason and control over nature. We also see the importance of social hierarchy, with the manor house serving as a symbol of wealth and status. Rademaker's landscape evokes a sense of national pride in the Dutch countryside. Prints like these fed a growing market for topographical views among the Dutch merchant class. The Rijksmuseum’s collection of prints and drawings is an important resource for understanding the social and cultural history of the Netherlands. These images help us to understand the politics of imagery and the social conditions that shaped artistic production.