Landschap met ronde toren in een haven 1626 - 1677

Curator: This print, housed here at the Rijksmuseum, is attributed to Thomas Wijck, titled "Landscape with a Round Tower in a Harbour," likely made sometime between 1626 and 1677. Editor: It immediately strikes me as melancholic. The monochromatic etching creates a somber atmosphere, punctuated by the imposing yet crumbling tower. Curator: The tower is certainly a central figure. We can think of towers, historically, as places of refuge, sites for defense or signals. A round tower, more structurally sound, could have symbolized fortification and endurance. Editor: But this tower is in decay. That deterioration, those missing sections… They undermine any initial sense of stability. Is Wijck trying to visually represent the fragility of human achievement against the inevitable decay of time? Curator: Perhaps. Also consider its location within a busy harbor. It could be an indication of a particular site, a landmark that helped identify the port. These ports, essential for Dutch trade routes, represented an expanding world, new encounters and exchanges. Editor: The etchings reinforce a strong sense of depth, which then suggests a wider narrative. In the foreground, the tiny figures near the boat feel very human scale compared to the almost mythological tower. The city and harbour create a backdrop for humanity. Curator: Note the figures. These are smaller than the setting, sure, but no less significant. Their placement foregrounds the ordinary tasks, juxtaposed against the backdrop of grand structures, suggesting human scale against grand projects. This image captures that moment where ordinary meets enduring legacy. Editor: Ultimately, though, it’s the ruin that lingers. The print achieves a careful tension—simultaneously romantic and filled with decay. It prompts reflection on the ephemerality of both human creation and perception. Curator: And indeed, on the way our memories construct both the grandeur and the vulnerability of our shared heritage.