Terras in de tuin van Paleis Soestdijk 1725 - 1747

Hendrik de Leth created this print of the terraces in the garden of Soestdijk Palace sometime in the first half of the 18th century, using etching and engraving techniques. The image offers us a glimpse into the world of the Dutch elite, a world shaped by wealth accumulated through colonialism and trade. We see a carefully constructed landscape, a garden designed to impress and to display power. But who gets to enjoy this space? Who is excluded? These manicured gardens reflect a societal order rooted in class and privilege. Consider the labor required to maintain such a space, the unseen hands that toiled to create this vision of paradise. How does this image reinforce or challenge traditional notions of beauty and order? What emotions does the artist evoke through the depiction of this scene? Ultimately, this image serves as a reminder of the complex social and economic forces that have shaped our world, inviting us to consider our own relationship to power, privilege, and the natural world.