Nis met standbeeld en bassin 1703 - 1712

Daniël Marot created this print, “Nis met standbeeld en bassin,” whose exact date remains unknown, using etching. Marot, a Huguenot designer, brought French Baroque style to the Netherlands and England, a style often associated with opulence and power. This print presents an idealized vision of nature, carefully curated and sculpted into formal gardens. Yet, within this controlled environment, Marot subtly introduces figures that hint at a more sensual, perhaps even unruly, aspect of nature. Consider the contrast between the rigid, classical architecture and the playful interaction of nymphs and satyrs around the fountain. What does it mean to stage the natural world? Who has access to such carefully designed spaces? And how do these constructed environments reflect the social hierarchies of Marot's time? As you contemplate these questions, allow yourself to be drawn into the intricate details of Marot's print.