Tuin van Paleis Honselaarsdijk met fontein Possibly 1696 - 1774

Cornelis Danckerts the Second created this print of the Garden of Honselaarsdijk Palace using engraving. Here, the character of the engraved line shapes our understanding of the scene. Think of the labor involved in making multiple, identical images using this method. The metal plate is painstakingly incised, each line a deliberate mark. The fineness of the lines determines the appearance of light and shadow, allowing the artist to depict the lush garden with its formal arrangements of trees and meticulously designed fountain. The lines also delineate the figures strolling, reminding us of the social world this garden represents, and the hierarchies that support such leisure. The precision suggests the control that wealthy patrons exert over both nature and the artisans who help them display that control. Considering the material and process of this print invites us to reflect on the social context and labor involved in creating and maintaining such displays of wealth and power.