Gezicht op Château de Berny vanaf de tuinen 1655

Matthäus Merian the Younger rendered this view of the Château de Berny in ink and watercolor. The formal garden represents more than mere aesthetics; it speaks to the very nature of control and order over the natural world. The garden's roots can be traced back to the hortus conclusus, the enclosed garden. From antiquity to medieval times, this motif symbolized paradise, a sanctuary from the wild. Think of the Garden of Eden, a space of perfect harmony. As we move into the Renaissance, this concept evolves. The garden becomes a stage for power, reflecting humanity's dominance over nature. This is mirrored in the layout of estates like Versailles, a motif that goes back to ancient Roman villas. The psychological weight of these spaces is considerable. They represent a longing for order amidst chaos. The Château de Berny, viewed through Merian's eye, thus becomes a meditation on the enduring human desire to tame, cultivate, and find solace in a carefully structured world.