Constantijn Huygens II in the Garden of Hofwijk Manor 1648 - 1671

Jan de Bisschop rendered this drawing of Constantijn Huygens II in the garden with pen in brown ink. Observe how the central figure, Huygens, is flanked by figures engaged in mundane tasks; to the left, an older woman with a cane, and to the right, a figure bent over, perhaps gardening. This arrangement is not coincidental. It evokes the classical motif of "Et in Arcadia ego," a meditation on mortality, the inevitability of death even in idyllic settings. This motif resurfaces through centuries, seen in paintings by Poussin and Guercino, each reiterating the presence of death amidst life's pleasures. The iconography serves as a memento mori, a reminder that no matter how pleasant or cultured life may be, death is always present, lingering in the background. This drawing then becomes more than a simple depiction of a garden scene; it is a profound reflection on the human condition, echoing through time.