Orangerie van Paleis het Loo 1695 - 1705

This engraving of the Orangerie van Paleis het Loo, was crafted by Pieter Schenk around the turn of the 18th century, capturing the palace's gardens. The dominant motif here is that of the garden itself, an enclosed, cultivated space teeming with symbolic weight. Gardens, from the mythical Garden of Eden to the hanging gardens of Babylon, have long represented a human desire to control nature, to create paradise on earth. Look at the carefully arranged rows of potted plants; they speak of order and prosperity, echoing the power and sophistication of the palace. This striving for harmony and control is not unique. It is also seen, for instance, in ancient Egyptian tomb gardens, designed to provide sustenance in the afterlife. Just as these gardens served as a reflection of earthly status, the Orangerie garden embodies a profound longing for stability and a dream of a perfect world. It reflects the deep human impulse to cultivate not only the land but also our own souls, seeking refuge from the wildness of life outside its walls.