Gezicht op de tuinen van Oostervecht 1719

Daniël Stopendaal created this print, “View of the Gardens of Oostervecht,” using etching techniques. During the Dutch Golden Age, the Netherlands experienced unprecedented economic, scientific, and cultural growth. At this time, the construction of elaborate gardens became a status symbol for the wealthy merchant class. Stopendaal's print offers us a window into this world, but through a very particular lens. Consider how the garden is meticulously designed. The symmetry and order reflect a desire to control nature, mirroring the social hierarchies of the time. Who has access to this space, and who is excluded? What does it mean to cultivate such a manicured environment, especially when the Dutch economy was deeply entwined with global trade and colonialism? While this image may seem like a harmless depiction of leisure, it invites us to consider the power dynamics embedded within. It reveals the ways in which wealth and privilege were—and continue to be—visually constructed and maintained.