Kasteel Geldermalsen 1737 - 1779

Pieter Jan van Liender made this drawing of Kasteel Geldermalsen using pen and gray ink, and gray wash sometime in the 18th century. Drawings like this one give us insight into the cultural values of the Netherlands during this period. It's interesting to note how the artist has carefully depicted the architecture of the castle and its surrounding landscape, emphasizing order, balance, and classical motifs that were fashionable at the time. This aesthetic preference reflects the values of the upper classes who commissioned such works, revealing their desire to project an image of sophistication, control, and wealth. We can use sources like estate records, social histories, and architectural surveys to further explore the role of the castle within the Dutch social landscape of the 1700s. Through this, we realize the meanings of art depend on the complex social and institutional contexts in which they're created.