Tuin met een parterre, omgeven door hekken en open paviljoens 1583

This is a garden with a parterre, surrounded by fences and open pavilions, an etching now held in the Rijksmuseum and created by an anonymous artist. The artwork provides a birds eye view of a garden, which would have been a place for the wealthy to relax, stroll, and socialize. The lack of artist attribution invites questions about who had the privilege of creating and being recognized for artistic work. This garden, with its geometric patterns and manicured hedges, reflects a desire to impose order on nature, mirroring the social hierarchies of the time. Who was allowed to enter this space, and who was excluded? What kinds of conversations and interactions took place within its walls? And how might the experience of the garden differ based on one's gender, class, or race? Consider the implications of the garden as a stage for social performance, where appearances and status were carefully cultivated. The symmetry and control evident in the garden's design serve as a reminder of the power dynamics at play in shaping both physical spaces and social identities.