Vijver in de tuin van huis Ouderhoek 1719

Daniël Stopendaal made this print of the pond in the garden of Ouderhoek House in the Netherlands, sometime between 1692 and 1726. The bird’s eye view shows the formal gardens typical of wealthy estates in the Dutch Golden Age. We can see how the grounds are rigidly planned into geometric shapes. The eye is drawn to the distant belvedere atop the hill, a structure for enjoying the view and demonstrating the owner’s control over the landscape. The figures scattered around the pond and garden indicate the space was used for leisure activities, and to show off one’s wealth. Prints like this one were often commissioned by the estate owners themselves, and sold as souvenirs or used to promote the estate. They offer a window into the values and aspirations of the Dutch elite, and the kind of lifestyle they wanted to project. Studying estate records, architectural plans, and other visual representations of the period can help us to better understand the social and cultural context of this image.