Gezicht op de tuinen aan de zuidzijde van Paleis Soestdijk 1695

This small print, titled "View of the gardens on the south side of Soestdijk Palace", comes to us from an anonymous hand. It offers a glimpse into the leisure and privilege afforded to the Dutch elite. The symmetrical layout of the garden, with its elaborate parterres and neatly arranged pathways, speaks to the careful cultivation of status and the control over nature that was fashionable at the time. Small figures populate the garden; their attire reflects the social hierarchy and the gendered expectations of the era. We see men in hats and women in dresses strolling casually through the manicured grounds, embodying an ideal of refined sociability. While the image celebrates the wealth and taste of the Dutch aristocracy, it also hints at the social inequalities underpinning this lifestyle. It invites us to consider the labor and resources required to maintain such a space, raising questions about the relationship between power, privilege, and the natural world. It evokes both a sense of admiration for the beauty of the garden and a critical awareness of the social dynamics it represents.