Parkanlage mit Schloß und Springbrunnen, vorne zwei Reiter und einige andere Figuren 

Jan Hackaert made this pen and wash drawing, Park Landscape with Palace and Fountain, probably in the Netherlands, in the middle of the 17th century. It depicts an idealized vision of the Dutch Golden Age, with the trappings of wealth and leisure on display. The very existence of such artworks speaks to the growth of a wealthy merchant class in the Netherlands at the time. The people on horseback are probably members of that class, enjoying the grounds of a country estate, with its large house and elaborate fountain. Even the act of depicting this scene can be understood as a reflection of the social structure, as it suggests the artist was commissioned to create an image of wealth and status. We might look to period literature and estate records to better understand how art functioned as a tool for social positioning, and how artists like Hackaert helped to shape the cultural values of their time. The meaning of art is always dependent on such contexts.