Gezicht op Château de Villers-Cotterêts in vogelvluchtperspectief 1655

This is Matthäus Merian the Younger’s ‘View of the Château de Villers-Cotterêts in bird's-eye view’, an undated print now held in the Rijksmuseum. What strikes you first is the way Merian uses an elevated viewpoint to flatten the landscape, turning architectural space into almost a geometric pattern. Lines of trees and buildings form rigid grids, while open spaces are neatly arranged, devoid of the chaos of nature. This formal organization speaks to a desire to impose order on the world, a common theme in the artistic and intellectual life of the 17th century. The use of a bird's-eye perspective offers a sense of control, almost as if surveying a chessboard. This viewpoint reflects a broader philosophical trend towards rationalism, where reason and order were valued above all else. The print challenges our understanding of space by rendering it as a series of structured planes, inviting us to consider how power and knowledge can shape our perception of the world. Through its structured composition, the artwork suggests a world not just seen, but conceived.