Gezicht op het landgoed Ockenburgh bij Den Haag c. 1654

Adriaen Matham's etching, "Gezicht op het landgoed Ockenburgh bij Den Haag," presents a carefully constructed view of a Dutch estate. The composition unfolds with a formal arrangement of space, divided into distinct horizontal layers. In the foreground, Matham employs the repoussoir technique, using figures and hounds to draw the viewer into the scene. A low horizon line emphasizes the estate's architecture, centrally positioned, and flanked by dense foliage that frames the scene. The linear precision in the building's details and the surrounding landscape reflects a structured approach to portraying space. The semiotic language of this image speaks to control and order: the neatly arranged grounds, the symmetry of the house, and the controlled lines of perspective all suggest a cultivated environment, reflective of the values of Dutch society at the time. It conveys a sense of regulated harmony.