Ruins of a Castle by a River 1646 - 1681

Roelof van Vries painted this image of castle ruins by a river in the Netherlands sometime in the mid-17th century. It's an oil painting of moderate size that suggests a lot about the changing political and social landscape of the Dutch Golden Age. Notice how Vries emphasizes the decay of the castle. Why would he choose to focus on ruins rather than a stately home in good repair? The answer lies in the transformation of Dutch society during this period. The old feudal order was crumbling, and the rising merchant class was eager to display its wealth and power. Old castles and other fortifications were being replaced by new forms of architecture, and art was responding to these shifts. To understand this painting better, we can look at archival sources, architectural plans, and even literature from the period. By understanding the broader social context, we can appreciate how art reflects and shapes the world around it.