Vestingmuur met torens en burcht, Utrecht omstreeks de 8e eeuw 1857 - 1864

Willem Jacob Hofdijk created this etching of ‘Vestingmuur met torens en burcht, Utrecht omstreeks de 8e eeuw’ in the nineteenth century. Hofdijk was not just an artist, but also a writer and historian whose work was deeply rooted in Dutch national identity. During the 19th century, there was increased interest in national history and origins, with a romanticized view of the past. This image reflects that sentiment, idealizing the Dutch landscape and architectural heritage. The fortifications, rendered with detailed precision, evoke a sense of pride in the nation’s strength and resilience. Yet, this is also a selective history. In Hofdijk's time, history often focused on grand narratives of nations, sidelining the experiences of ordinary people. Consider, what stories are not being told? How might the lives of women, laborers, or marginalized communities have intersected with these imposing structures? This etching invites us to reflect on the power structures embedded in the landscape, and whose stories are remembered and whose are forgotten.