Gezicht op de ruïne van Huis ter Kleef te Haarlem, 1661 1727 - 1733

Abraham Rademaker made this etching of the Ruin of Huis ter Kleef near Haarlem in 1661. Rademaker came from a modest background and taught himself drawing. He is known for topographical works such as this one, which were in high demand. The etching shows the ruin, which was intentionally destroyed in 1573 during the siege of Haarlem in the Eighty Years’ War. The war was fought over religious and political freedom. The northern Netherlands fought for independence from Spanish rule, and this struggle had profound effects on the region's identity and culture. Notice the figures near the ruin, seemingly indifferent to this symbol of war. The choice to depict the ruin as a tourist spot reflects a societal grappling with the memory of conflict. Rademaker's etching captures both the visible scars of war and the subtle shifts in cultural memory.