Grote vijver bij Kasteel Zuilenstein 1682 - 1726

Daniël Stopendaal created this print of the Grote vijver bij Kasteel Zuilenstein, or the Great Pond at Zuilenstein Castle, sometime before his death in 1726. Stopendaal was working during the Dutch Golden Age, a period defined by economic prosperity and artistic innovation. At the time, the Netherlands was also a deeply stratified society, and this print reflects those divisions. The castle itself symbolizes the wealth and power of the aristocracy, a stark contrast to the working-class figures in the foreground who appear to be fishing or laboring near the water. This juxtaposition subtly comments on the social hierarchy of the time. While Stopendaal's composition is classical, it also gives us a glimpse into the lives of ordinary people against the backdrop of aristocratic opulence. The scene evokes a sense of everyday life unfolding against a backdrop of wealth and privilege, inviting us to reflect on the complexities of Dutch society during the Golden Age.