Kasteel Keppel 1800 - 1891

Roelant Roghman created this wash drawing of Kasteel Keppel in the 17th century, a period when the Dutch Republic was a major European power, its wealth built on global trade and colonial exploitation. Roghman, son of the engraver Hendrik Roghman, was a key figure in a family of artists. His landscapes, often featuring castles and country estates, reflect the cultural values of the Dutch elite, who commissioned such works to celebrate their status and ownership of land. These images contributed to constructing a national identity rooted in the control and aesthetic appreciation of the Dutch landscape. While Roghman's drawings capture the picturesque beauty of the Dutch countryside, it's important to remember the historical context in which they were made. The wealth that supported artistic production like this was often derived from exploitative trade practices. Roghman's work invites us to consider how art can both reflect and obscure the complexities of social and economic power.