Muurfontein met bassin after 1628

Jean Lepautre created this print of a 'Muurfontein met Bassin' or wall fountain with basin. This piece reflects the Baroque aesthetics which dominated 17th-century Europe, known for its opulence and grandeur, it mirrored the aspirations of the aristocratic elite. However, what might easily be overlooked is how gardens themselves operated as stages for social display and control. Consider the figures populating Lepautre's idealized design – women attending to the fountain, and men carrying water. The presence of these figures reminds us of the labor and social hierarchy required to maintain these spaces. In this context, the fountain wasn't merely a source of water, but a symbol of power. While the artwork might seem to celebrate aesthetic beauty, it also encodes the social dynamics of its time, where art and life were deeply interwoven with class and status.