Tuin met parterre met op de voorgrond een spiraalvormige aanleg c. 1587 - 1640

This print from an unknown artist depicts a formal garden, rendered with fine lines on paper. The process of printmaking, especially engraving as seems to be the case here, is significant. The technique involved meticulous labor to transfer an image onto a metal plate, which was then inked and pressed onto paper. This allowed for the reproduction of images on a scale previously unimaginable, impacting the dissemination of knowledge and aesthetics. Consider the social context: the depicted garden itself speaks to the wealth and power required to maintain such manicured spaces. Now think of the engraver. While their name is lost to history, their skill was essential, and their labor part of a larger economic system of production and consumption. By understanding the materials and processes involved in making this print, and the garden itself, we gain insight into the social and economic structures of its time, challenging any separation of fine art from the realities of labor and production.