Paleistuin met een ronde fontein c. 1600

This is "Paleistuin met een ronde fontein" or "Palace Garden with a Round Fountain," an engraving by Johannes or Lucas van Doetechum. Prints like this circulated widely in the 16th and 17th centuries, offering glimpses into the lifestyles of the wealthy. What stories do these formal gardens tell about power, class, and the control of nature? The architecture and grounds create a space of privilege and exclusion. Consider the fountain as the garden's centerpiece. Classical figures and elaborate ornamentation demonstrate the owner's wealth and refinement. The garden's symmetry and order reflect a desire to control and organize the natural world. Such gardens were often places for social display, where elites could see and be seen, further reinforcing their social standing. How do these meticulously designed spaces, so different from the natural world, reflect and reinforce societal hierarchies?