Stadspoort in de dertiende eeuw 1859 - 1864

Kasparus Karsen made this pencil and watercolor drawing, Stadspoort in de dertiende eeuw, sometime in the mid-19th century. It shows a city gate from the thirteenth century. But what exactly was Karsen trying to say about the relationship between the present and the past? During the 19th century, there was growing interest in medieval history. People began to study the architecture, literature, and art of the Middle Ages with a new sense of appreciation. The gothic style became popular in church design, and medieval themes appeared frequently in paintings and literature. This interest also reflected a sense of nationalism. People saw the Middle Ages as a time of great cultural achievement and national identity, before the fragmentation of Europe and the rise of empires. By creating an image of the 13th century, was Karsen trying to make a statement about his own time? The interpretation of such images is the task of social and cultural historians, who use documents, literature, and other art to better understand how people made sense of the world around them.