Tuin met parterre met in het centrum een fontein met standbeeld c. 1587 - 1640

This anonymous print held at the Rijksmuseum depicts a garden with parterre, created by an unknown engraver. This kind of formal garden design, popular in Europe, particularly during the Renaissance and Baroque periods, reflects specific social structures. The image shows the garden’s layout, with its symmetrical patterns and precisely manicured hedges, which spoke to human control over nature, a concept favored by the elite. The central fountain, adorned with a statue, suggests wealth and status. Such gardens were more than just aesthetic spaces; they were stages for social display, reinforcing hierarchies. We can learn more by understanding the era in which it was made, delving into garden design treatises, estate records, and social histories. The imagery reflects the values of the time and the place, revealing insights into its cultural norms and power dynamics.