Gezicht op kasteel Sint-André 1700

This print, "Gezicht op kasteel Sint-André," was made by Romeyn de Hooghe, a Dutch artist active in the late 17th and early 18th centuries. De Hooghe was working during a period of significant political and social upheaval in the Netherlands. Here, we see a rendering of a landscape dominated by strong architectural forms. Castles and fortifications emerge as symbols of power and control during a period of frequent warfare and territorial disputes. De Hooghe has included the blazon of a noble family, reminding us of the entrenched hierarchies of the time. His choice to center an aristocratic family speaks volumes about the prevailing power structures and social inequalities that marked this era. Yet, De Hooghe’s works also provide insight into his own identity and beliefs. As an engraver and etcher, he disseminated images that both reflected and shaped public opinion, and his art serves as a mirror to the complex interplay between patronage, politics, and personal expression.