Kasteel met ophaalbrug 1559 - 1561

"Kasteel met ophaalbrug," or "Castle with a drawbridge," was etched by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. Castles like this one weren't just stone and mortar; they were symbols of power and control. They represent the lives of the privileged few who inhabited them, set against the backdrop of a society defined by stark class divisions. The drawbridge, both a physical barrier and a symbolic one, reminds us of the separation between those inside and those outside the castle walls. Consider how these structures influenced the social imagination of the time, reinforcing a hierarchy that was both visible and tangible. The inclusion of swans, often symbols of grace and nobility, further emphasizes the idealized image of castle life, obscuring the realities of labor and inequality that sustained it. This image invites us to reflect on the stories we tell about power, and to question the narratives that elevate some while marginalizing others.