Gezicht op een prieel met trappen in een tuin after 1722

Nicolas Jean Baptiste Poilly's "View of a Gazebo with Steps in a Garden" is a hand-colored etching, a meticulously structured composition that invites contemplation. The symmetry is immediately striking, the gazebo's arches and flanking greenery creating a balanced, almost mirrored effect. The pastel hues of pink, green, and blue evoke a sense of serenity and order. However, this apparent harmony is disrupted by the deliberate artificiality of the scene. The carefully manicured hedges, the ornate gazebo, and the staged arrangement of statues and potted plants reveal a world where nature is subjugated to human will and aesthetic ideals. The perspective, precise yet somewhat flattened, enhances this sense of artifice. It is a constructed reality, designed for visual pleasure and social display, inviting us to consider how representations of nature reflect cultural values and power structures. This is not just a garden; it's a statement.