April 1722 - 1784

Simon Fokke created this print titled "April" in the Netherlands during the 18th century. The print depicts a woman and child in a formal garden setting. We see classical architecture, sculpture, and a large fountain in the background. The design of gardens in this period was itself an expression of power. These were carefully planned spaces that contrasted with the disorder of nature. A highly artificial space, it's a stage on which social performances took place. In the 18th century, Dutch society was highly stratified, and fashion, leisure, and the arts were closely associated with wealth and status. The Rijksmuseum holds a vast collection of prints and other materials that can help us understand the social and cultural context in which this work was made. By researching the history of gardens, fashion, and social class, we can gain a deeper understanding of the image and its meaning.