Landschap met een ruïne 1820 - 1872

Hendrik Abraham Klinkhamer made this drawing of a ruin in the Netherlands using pen in gray ink. The ruined castle sits in the center of the image. Ruins like this one were popular subjects for artists during the nineteenth century. What does this choice of subject tell us about the cultural context of the time? The Dutch Golden Age was long past, and the Netherlands had become a constitutional monarchy in 1815. The ruins could be a reminder of the past glory of the Netherlands, or perhaps a more general meditation on the transience of human achievement. The Rijksmuseum itself, where this drawing is housed, was founded in 1800 to house a collection of art and historical artifacts, suggesting a growing interest in preserving and displaying the past. Understanding this image involves situating it within the cultural and institutional history of the Netherlands. We might research the artist’s biography, the history of the castle itself, or the collecting practices of the Rijksmuseum to gain further insight.