Gezicht op het terras met jonge fruitbomen in de tuinen van Huis ten Bosch after 1717

This small print, made by an anonymous artist, depicts the gardens of Huis ten Bosch. The image shows an elevated garden terrace with meticulously arranged fruit trees, and the Huis ten Bosch palace, recognizable by its dome-like roof. The fruit trees are arranged in precise geometric patterns, a symbol of mankind’s attempt to impose order on nature, an ideal found in classical garden design. This desire to dominate nature brings to mind similar motifs found in Roman villas, where gardens were designed to showcase man's power and control over the natural world. The dome of Huis ten Bosch, a prominent architectural element in the image, reminds us of the Pantheon in Rome, a reference to classical antiquity. Such visual quotations transcend mere imitation. They represent a form of cultural memory, a conscious reaching back to earlier epochs to draw upon their perceived authority and grandeur. The enduring appeal of these forms is in their power to evoke a sense of timelessness, engaging viewers on a deep, subconscious level with the echoes of history and the weight of tradition.