Liefdestuin (rechter blad) 1606 - 1640

Christoffel Jegher made this print, “Liefdestuin (rechter blad),” sometime between 1596 and 1653. The image's composition is bisected, contrasting architectural stone and verdant wilderness. Figures are arranged across this plane, with varying tonal shading emphasizing depth and movement. The print employs a classical aesthetic to frame a scene of playful dalliance. The characters and the garden setting, however, are not merely decorative. Jegher uses this space to comment on the artificiality of courtly love. The composition is carefully structured, with a clear distinction between the manicured stone structure and the wilder, more 'natural' setting. The tonal variations within the print further enhance the sense of spatial depth and narrative complexity. The interplay between light and shadow creates a dynamic visual field, inviting viewers to ponder the relationships between artifice and nature, control and freedom. Jegher challenges us to question the boundaries between these seemingly disparate elements, ultimately enriching our understanding of love.