Gezicht op kasteel Ostin 1817 - 1844

Jacques Sturm created this print, titled 'Gezicht op kasteel Ostin', sometime before 1844, using etching and possibly other techniques. The serene landscape, with its grand estate, reflects the social stratification of 19th-century Europe. Sturm, positioned within this society, captures a scene of leisure and privilege, subtly revealing the power dynamics at play. Consider how the figures populating the landscape are arranged. Some are enjoying leisurely activities, while others are relegated to the background. This deliberate placement invites reflection on who has access to leisure and who is excluded. As you take in the view, consider the lives and labor that sustain such estates. How does the artist, through his chosen perspective, either acknowledge or elide these socio-economic realities? Sturm’s composition offers a glimpse into a world defined by both beauty and inequality, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of history and representation.