Tuin met een parterre bestaande uit acht rechthoekige compartimenten 1615

This anonymous engraving presents a garden with eight rectangular sections, each meticulously laid out with parterres. The garden as a symbol, a reoccurring motif throughout history, speaks to humanity’s desire to control nature, to create order out of chaos. Here, the garden's design—reminiscent of a labyrinth—evokes a sense of mystery and introspection. Think back to ancient Crete and the myth of the Minotaur, the labyrinth there not a garden, but a prison. The symbolism of the labyrinth, of wandering and finding one's way, is deeply embedded in our collective consciousness, appearing in cultures across the globe and throughout time. The garden, then, becomes a stage for our inner dramas, a space where we confront our own complexities and navigate the paths of our lives. As you gaze upon this serene yet intricate design, consider the ways in which the garden, both as a physical space and a symbolic entity, continues to shape our understanding of ourselves and the world around us.