Tuinlabyrint met fazanten op Paleis Honselaarsdijk 1689 - 1702

Carel Allard made this print of the Tuinlabyrint met fazanten op Paleis Honselaarsdijk in the Netherlands in the late 17th or early 18th century, using etching. It shows a garden maze at Honselaarsdijk Palace, a residence of the Dutch Stadtholders. At the time this print was made, the Netherlands was a republic, but the Stadtholders, particularly from the House of Orange, held significant political power. Royal gardens like this one were not simply places of leisure, but also symbols of power and control. The maze itself, with its carefully planned paths and hidden turns, can be seen as a metaphor for the complexities of courtly life and political maneuvering. The inclusion of pheasants, exotic birds often associated with wealth and status, further emphasizes the opulence and exclusivity of the palace grounds. To fully understand this print, one could investigate the history of Honselaarsdijk Palace, the role of the Stadtholders in Dutch society, and the cultural significance of gardens and mazes in the 17th and 18th centuries.