View of Huis Amerongen, Seen from the East c. 1646 - 1647

Roelant Roghman rendered this drawing of Huis Amerongen from the east, using pen and brown ink with a grey wash. The castle, with its dominant tower, is an ancient symbol, representing power, protection, and the heights of human ambition. We see these towers throughout history; their image remains an archetypal sign of strength and aspiration. The tower reminds me of the Tower of Babel, as depicted by artists like Pieter Bruegel. Both rise assertively, but the Amerongen is more controlled, more human. The unconscious desire to reach the heavens persists, but here, it is tempered by order. This image also speaks to our fascination with elevation, a desire to rise above the earthly. Whether in religious architecture or here, in a secular manor, this visual language creates a powerful force, engaging us on a subconscious level. The human impulse to build upwards continues, a symbol continually adapting through history.