Gartten Parterres 1697 - 1705

This is "Gartten Parterres," a drawing by George Hätzl, now held at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The drawing presents an aerial view of a garden design, meticulously rendered with fine lines. Notice how the composition is structured around a series of nested geometric shapes: rectangles define the outer frame and central parterre, while the corners are filled with swirling, organic forms. Each space is decorated with stylized floral motifs and small, repetitive symbols that punctuate the lines and edges. The drawing blends the rigidity of geometric structure with the fluidity of natural forms. It challenges fixed meanings by overlaying the constructed order of garden design onto the unpredictability of nature. This interplay of control and freedom invites us to question the values we assign to order and chaos. Ultimately, the drawing serves as a reminder of the garden's role as a stage for cultural and philosophical discourse, where ideas about nature, control, and beauty are constantly negotiated.