Gezicht op Kasteel Groot Poelgeest, 1730 1750 - 1792

This etching of Groot Poelgeest Castle was created in 1730 by Hendrik Spilman. The castle rises resolutely from the water, a powerful symbol of dominion and permanence. Castles, throughout history, have served as visual assertions of power, echoing ancient fortresses and citadels. This image reminds me of similar defensive structures in medieval tapestries and illuminated manuscripts; each one is a declaration of authority. Water, here, plays a dual role. It is both a protective moat and a mirror, reflecting the castle's grandeur and doubling its visual impact. Think of water in ancient mythologies—often a symbol of the subconscious, of the unknown depths of our own minds. The castle reflected in the water suggests a dialogue between the conscious display of power and the hidden, perhaps unconscious, desires for security and control. We see here, yet again, how symbols endure. The castle, the water, the very act of depiction—each carries echoes of the past, resonating within us on levels we may only dimly perceive.