Stallen op het landgoed van Huis ter Meer te Maarssen c. 1740

Hendrik de Leth created this print of the estate of Huis ter Meer in Maarssen with etching. The overall impression is one of ordered serenity, evoked by the formal arrangement of space and the use of linear perspective. De Leth employs a symmetrical composition, leading the eye along a central axis into the depths of the estate. This structured approach divides the landscape into distinct zones, each carefully detailed with buildings, figures, and meticulously arranged greenery. The use of line creates a sense of depth, but it also reinforces a controlled, almost geometric interpretation of nature. The architecture and landscaping reflect a formal aesthetic. The buildings, with their clean lines and balanced proportions, mirror the carefully shaped trees and hedges. Here, nature is tamed and ordered, reflecting a broader cultural desire to impose structure onto the natural world. Notice how De Leth's structured composition invites us to consider the semiotic interplay between nature and culture. The print serves as a cultural document, reflecting the values of order, control, and aesthetic refinement.