Zijaanzicht en plattegrond van het Groen Kabinet bij Paleis Huis ten Bosch 1655

Jan Matthysz created this undated print titled "Zijaanzicht en plattegrond van het Groen Kabinet bij Paleis Huis ten Bosch" showing the side view and floor plan of the Green Cabinet at Huis ten Bosch Palace. The clean lines and precise geometry of the print speak to the values of the Dutch Golden Age, an era defined by its economic prosperity and cultural flourishing. The print offers us insight into the lives of the elite, revealing the meticulously designed spaces created for leisure. It highlights the power and privilege associated with the ruling class and the stark contrast between their lives and those of the working class, who were largely excluded from such spaces of leisure and luxury. The garden is depicted as an extension of domestic space, emphasizing control over the natural world. Notice the figures standing in the doorway, they offer a glimpse of those who inhabited and maintained these spaces. This print encapsulates both the beauty and the complexities of Dutch society during its Golden Age.