Tuin met een rechthoekige parterre met in het centrum een cirkelvormig compartiment met een boom c. 1583 - 1640

This undated print depicts a garden with a rectangular parterre, made by an anonymous artist. The image presents a bird's-eye view of a formal garden, complete with a complex maze, manicured hedges, and symmetrical planting beds. The print offers a glimpse into the aesthetics and social values of its time. Formal gardens like this one were status symbols, reflecting the wealth, power, and control over nature wielded by the elite classes. The rigid geometry and ordered layout of the garden stand in contrast to the natural world. This contrast illustrates a desire to impose human will on the environment. The maze itself, a popular feature in European gardens, can be seen as a metaphor for the complexities and challenges of courtly life. By studying garden designs, estate records, and social histories, we can begin to understand the cultural meanings embedded in these images and appreciate the ways in which art reflects and shapes the societies that create them.