A Castle (on the Rhine?) 1616 - 1656

This is a graphite drawing of ‘A Castle (on the Rhine?)’ by Jan van Goyen, made in the 17th century. Van Goyen lived and worked during the Dutch Golden Age, a time of immense economic prosperity for the Dutch Republic. His landscapes were part of a burgeoning art market catering to a wealthy merchant class. This sketch, though simple, encapsulates the period’s fascination with the land and its ownership. Castles were not just residences but symbols of power, status, and historical lineage. Van Goyen, however, renders this castle with a certain understated quality, perhaps reflecting a shift in power from traditional aristocracy to the rising merchant class. It invites you to imagine the lives and histories contained within those walls, who lived there, and what stories they could tell. The drawing serves as both a geographical record and an emotional touchstone, reflecting the personal and societal values of its time.