Het kasteel Gansoijen bij Drongelen 1720 - 1792

Aert Schouman created this artwork of Gansoijen Castle near Drongelen using pen in gray and brush in gray. Schouman lived during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of economic prosperity and artistic flourishing in the Netherlands. At first glance, the drawing presents a serene image of Dutch aristocracy, yet we must consider whose stories are missing in this seemingly benign depiction. The castle, a symbol of wealth and power, was undoubtedly built and maintained through the labor of countless individuals, many of whom would have been of lower social status. It is important to remember how class distinctions were so clearly marked during this period in Dutch history. The absence of these figures raises critical questions about visibility, representation, and the selective nature of historical narratives. What does it mean to idealize these kinds of buildings, if we don't think about all those whose labor sustained that way of life?