Gezicht op een vijver met fontein in de tuin van Slot Zeist 1682 - 1726

Daniël Stopendaal created this print of the gardens at Slot Zeist in the Netherlands, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. The formal garden was a potent symbol of power and control. In this image, the garden is meticulously planned; nature is carefully managed and contained by aristocratic will. The Dutch elite embraced these kinds of formal gardens, imitating the excesses of Louis XIV’s Versailles. The gardens became stages for social display, reinforcing the status of their owners. Note how people stroll along the perimeter, turning the space into a promenade. Understanding the social history of gardens helps us see beyond the aesthetic appeal and grasp the politics of space and representation. Old estate documents and social commentaries from the period provide valuable insights into the significance of these gardens as symbols of status and control.