View of the Garden of the Rubenshuis, Antwerp 1699 - 1732

Jacobus Harrewijn made this print of the Rubenshuis garden in Antwerp, using engraving, sometime between 1660 and 1732. It offers us a glimpse into the domestic world of one of the Baroque era's most celebrated artists. The image is rich with visual codes. The formal garden, the classical statues, and the architectural grandeur all speak to the cultural values of the time. This was a period when art was increasingly seen as a reflection of social status. Antwerp, at the time, was a bustling hub of commerce and artistic innovation. The city's economic prosperity allowed for the patronage of artists like Rubens. Harrewijn's print is also interesting from an institutional perspective. Prints like these played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas, allowing the public to engage with art in new ways. To understand the print better, one might look into the history of printmaking in Antwerp, or examine archival materials related to the Rubenshuis. Ultimately, the meaning of this print is contingent on its social and institutional context.