Detail of the Park at Enghien (right half) 1685

This detailed print of the Park at Enghien was made by Romeyn de Hooghe, likely toward the end of the 17th century. It's made from an etched metal plate, which would have been painstakingly worked to create a mirror image of this composition. Note the way the park is laid out with geometrical precision: canals, manicured trees, and regimented lawns. This is no accident. The art of gardening was a popular pastime for aristocrats in this era, and a way of imposing order on the natural world. But look closer, and you’ll notice the immense amount of labor needed to achieve this effect. Many workers are subtly included in this composition. This image is thus not only a portrait of the park, but a depiction of the social order that made it possible. By focusing our attention on the means of production, we can begin to see these kinds of landscapes with new eyes. This print gives us a glimpse into the relationship between elite culture, labor, and the control of nature.