Gezicht op het voormalige jachtslot van Oldenbarnevelt of Torenzicht te Poeldijk 1904

This photograph captures the former hunting lodge of Oldenbarnevelt, or Torenzicht, in Poeldijk. It was created by an anonymous photographer working for Monumentenzorg, the Dutch heritage organization. The image offers a glimpse into the Dutch landscape and architectural history, shrouded by the limbs of a bare tree. The lodge, a symbol of status and leisure, is seen through a scrim of branches that perhaps softens what might otherwise be a stark portrayal of privilege. Consider the layers of visibility and access here. What stories do buildings tell, and whose stories are included? Is it possible that the veil of the branches functions to obscure the tales of labor and servitude that are invisibly entwined with the lodge’s history? It invites reflections on the power dynamics inherent in historical preservation.