Grand Parterre du Jardin de la Royne mere a Luxembourg, in Traité du Jardinage selon les Raisons de la Nature et de l'Art 1638

Michel van Lochom created this print, Grand Parterre du Jardin de la Royne mere a Luxembourg, as part of a treatise on gardening. It's made with etching, a process involving coating a metal plate with wax, drawing through the wax to expose the metal, then submerging the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink, which is then transferred to paper. Consider how the precision and detail of the etched lines allow for an intricate depiction of the garden layout. The medium emphasizes the formal, geometric patterns of the garden, highlighting the control of nature inherent in its design. This print shows us how landscape design can be understood as a social practice, reflecting power and control. The elaborate parterre gardens, like the one depicted here, demanded intensive labor for their creation and maintenance, underscoring the relationship between aesthetics and the social context of its time. Appreciating this etching involves recognizing not just artistic skill, but also the broader implications of design and the environment.