Plattegrond van tuin met grasparterres omheind door planten after 1703

This undated print shows a garden plan with grass parterres, enclosed by plants, from an unknown artist. The aerial perspective gives us a bird's-eye view of the garden's layout, emphasizing its geometric patterns and ornamental arrangements. Prints like this circulated widely in Europe from the 16th century onward, influencing garden design and reflecting the social status of those who commissioned such elaborate spaces. The symmetry and order seen here were not merely aesthetic choices but statements about control over nature. It mirrors the hierarchical social structures of the time, where the wealthy elite sought to demonstrate their power and refinement. To understand this image fully, historians explore estate records, botanical studies, and even literature to uncover the social meanings embedded in these landscapes. Art, after all, is not created in a vacuum; it reflects and shapes the world around it.