Gezicht op Huis Wolfswaard 1727 - 1733

Abraham Rademaker created "Gezicht op Huis Wolfswaard" with etching in approximately 1720. Rademaker lived and worked during the Dutch Golden Age, a period of immense economic, scientific, and artistic growth in the Netherlands. In this print, we see a highly ordered landscape, reflecting the Dutch societal values of structure and control but who truly benefits from such order? This depiction of Wolfswaard House is not merely a portrait of architecture, it is a testament to power, privilege and the colonial wealth which underpinned these structures. While the print invites us to admire the grandeur of the estate, it is worth asking, at what cost was this wealth accumulated and who was excluded from such lavish displays of success? Look closely at the figures on the right, they seem small, insignificant even. How might their lives compare to the opulence suggested by the building? As you consider this image, reflect on the complex interplay between beauty, power, and the hidden histories embedded within seemingly simple landscapes.