Onderboezem in Paleis Noordeinde 1664

This print shows a design for an ‘Onderboezem in Paleis Noordeinde’, or chimney piece in Noordeinde Palace, made by Jan Matthysz. In the 17th and 18th centuries, luxurious interiors like the one depicted here, were potent symbols of status, commerce, and colonialism. The display of wealth through architecture was directly connected to exploiting global resources and labor. We must ask, how was the financial capital accumulated to construct such elaborate displays of affluence? Notice how the design emphasizes symmetry and classical motifs – reflecting a desire for order and control which extended into the social and political spheres of the time. These interiors weren't just about aesthetics; they were stages for performing power. They represented how one saw themselves and how they wished to be seen by others. Consider the narratives these spaces tell, both in what they display and what they conceal about the complex realities of their creation.