Gezicht op huis Kärsö en het herenhuis Malmvik 1695

Erik Reitz created this engraving titled 'Gezicht op huis Kärsö en het herenhuis Malmvik' depicting two Swedish estates. During Reitz’s time, estate portraits served as powerful symbols of wealth and status for the landowning elite. These images reinforced social hierarchies by showcasing the grandeur of the estates, often glossing over the labor and resources extracted from local populations and enslaved people that supported such opulence. Notice how the landscape is carefully manicured, with symmetrical gardens and imposing architecture that reflect a desire to control and dominate the natural world. The upper image, ‘Kärsö’ estate, features idealized views of the estates, emphasizing their architectural elegance and integration with the surrounding landscape. The lower image, ‘Malmvik’ estate, seems tranquil, yet it encapsulates the economic inequalities of the time. Reitz's print offers a glimpse into a world of privilege and power, inviting us to reflect on the historical context in which these images were created.