Amfitheater te Kleef, naar het Noorden gezien 1675 - 1685

Jan van Call created this vista of the Amfitheater te Kleef using pen and watercolor. At first glance, the use of line to create symmetry is striking. The central axis, anchored by the tiered fountains, extends into the distance, drawing the eye towards a far-off structure. This linear precision structures the landscape into neatly defined zones, almost as if the natural world has been subdued by human will. Notice how the artist uses color washes to create volume and depth, yet maintains a sense of flatness. Van Call was working at a time when formal gardens became symbolic of power and control, reflecting the era's emphasis on rational order. Here, the semiotics of space and perspective are deployed to assert dominance over nature. This isn't merely a depiction of a garden, it's a statement about humanity's ability to organize and dominate the world around them. The linear structure suggests a pre-determined route, underscoring the theme of controlled, directed experience.