Gezicht door de grote haag op het kabinet in de tuin van Huis ter Meer te Maarssen c. 1740

Hendrik de Leth created this print of the garden at Huis ter Meer using engraving, a process involving sharp tools to incise lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The stark, linear quality of the print underscores the garden’s formal design. Think of the labor involved: hedges precisely shaped, parterres meticulously laid out. It speaks to the immense resources and control over nature wielded by the Dutch elite in the 18th century. The print medium itself, allowing for multiple reproductions, reflects a changing social landscape, where images and ideas could circulate more widely. Yet, the subject matter, an exclusive garden, hints at the deep social divisions of the time. Ultimately, the artwork is not just an image, but a record of material, labor, and social context, blurring the lines between art, craft, and social commentary.