Gezicht op een deel van de tuinen van Huis ten Bosch after 1717

This engraving captures a view of the gardens of Huis ten Bosch. Immediately, we see the rigid geometry of the garden layout, symbolizing humanity’s attempt to control nature. This formality contrasts with the natural, organic growth of the climbing plants on the building’s corner. Consider the dome of the Oriental Pavilion, a clear echo of classical antiquity, a symbol of power and authority. Domes resonate throughout history, from the Pantheon in Rome to Renaissance cathedrals. Each repetition carries with it the weight of its predecessors, evolving in meaning with each iteration. The conscious repetition of such forms is no accident; these visual echoes appeal to our collective memory, stirring emotions and subconscious associations connected to order and control over one's environment. The symbolic rigidity of the garden design persists through time, evolving and resurfacing in new contexts, a testament to the cyclical nature of history and the enduring power of symbols.