Voorzichtigheid, Arbeid en Overvloed voor een tuin 1696

Jan Goeree created this print, "Voorzichtigheid, Arbeid en Overvloed voor een tuin," in the late 17th or early 18th century, a period marked by the Dutch Golden Age's waning years. At first glance, the image presents an allegorical scene, seemingly celebrating the virtues of prudence, labor, and abundance in relation to gardening. However, looking closer, this print serves as a window into the complex social hierarchies of the time. The idealized garden scene, with its geometric precision, contrasts sharply with the laboring figures in the foreground, and the women are depicted as allegorical figures rather than as individuals. This artistic choice reflects the prevalent societal norms where women's identities were often subsumed by symbolic roles. The print invites us to reflect on whose labor enables such abundance and beauty, and at what cost? It’s a silent yet potent reminder of the power dynamics inherent in the creation and enjoyment of cultivated spaces, and of the lived realities obscured by idealized representations.