Het kasteel van Wijk bij Duurstede (?) 1765 - 1873

Cornelis van Hardenbergh made this drawing of Wijk bij Duurstede castle using pen and brown ink. The castle, with its imposing towers and formidable walls, evokes notions of power, security, and aristocratic lineage deeply rooted in the medieval era. Towers, like the ones we see here, have always symbolized aspiration and defense. Consider the Tower of Babel, a symbol of human ambition and the quest for knowledge. Across cultures, towers can be traced back to ancient ziggurats, marking humanity’s perennial quest to reach the heavens, a recurring motif in our collective unconscious, as explored by Jung. Each culture and historical context imbues these architectural forms with new layers of significance, reflecting the changing aspirations and anxieties of society. The way the artist portrayed this castle awakens our ancestral memories, engaging viewers on a profound, subconscious level. Its emotional and psychological power makes the symbols resonate with us still today.