Reverse Copy of Le Jardin, appelé aussi Le Marais (The Garden, also called The Marsh), from Les Quatre Paysages (The Four Landscapes), plate 1 1620 - 1700

This is a reverse copy of an etching called "The Garden," part of a series called "The Four Landscapes." While the artist remains anonymous, it speaks volumes about the period's relationship with nature and labor. Notice the gallows prominently placed in the middle ground. It appears almost as a natural element, blending into the landscape. This jarring juxtaposition—the pastoral with the punitive—creates a tension. Think of the Memento Mori tradition: the skull amidst life's pleasures. It's a stark reminder of mortality's ever-presence. The gallows, this instrument of death, mirrors the cyclical nature of life itself. Just as crops are sown and harvested, so too is justice meted out. This symbol travels through time, reappearing in various forms, each carrying the weight of societal fears and controls, a constant reminder of the tenuous balance between order and chaos.