Gezicht op slot Venngarn vanuit het zuiden en het prieel in de tuin 1695

This print of Venngarn Castle and its gardens was made by Willem Swidde in the late 17th century, using etching and engraving. Look closely, and you'll see how the landscape’s visual order stems from the labor required to create it. Consider how the act of imposing geometry upon nature – the straight lines and repeated forms – reflects the owner’s control, and a very literal form of top-down power. These formal gardens, and the castle itself, didn’t spring into being by magic; it took serious effort to build and maintain them. The printmaking process itself mirrors this dynamic. Etching and engraving are labor-intensive techniques, demanding skilled artisans to translate the world into precise lines. Notice how each cut and mark contributes to the overall image, building a scene that celebrates not just the beauty of the landscape, but also the effort required to master and represent it. Understanding the layers of making—from garden to artwork—deepens our appreciation, revealing the social and economic structures embedded within.