View of Huis ter Nieuburch, Rijswijk, Seen from the East 1643

Anthonie van der Croos made this drawing of Huis ter Nieuburch, Rijswijk, from the east, using pen in the mid-17th century. The drawing presents a wide angle on flat, open land, with a large building in the distance and trees to the right. We see figures on the road in the foreground. Constructed in the early 17th century, Huis ter Nieuburch was the site where the Treaty of Rijswijk was signed in 1697, ending the Nine Years' War. Van der Croos made this drawing decades before that event. Landscape drawings such as this one reflect Dutch interests in mapping and claiming their territory, documenting the land after their independence from Spain was won in 1648. This drawing shows a country estate from a distance, without glorifying it. Instead, the artist uses muted tones to blend it into the landscape. Art historians research drawings like this to better understand the social and political context of art making. In this case, learning more about the Nine Years' War and the treaty signed at this estate can illuminate the symbolism of the drawing.