Gezicht op de voorzijde van de nieuwe grot in de tuin van Kasteel Rosendael 1718

This print of the gardens at Rosendael Castle was made by Jan Smit in the Netherlands in the late 17th or early 18th century. The gardens at Rosendael were designed to display wealth and power, and the print gives us some insight into the culture of aristocratic life at this time. The grotto, the symmetrical design and the fountains were all intended to impress visitors with the owner’s control over nature, wealth and refined taste. This was a culture in which conspicuous consumption and display were central to maintaining status and influence. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, plays a significant role in shaping our understanding of Dutch history and culture. Art historians can draw on estate inventories, garden plans, and other documents to shed light on the social and cultural context. It is through this kind of research that we can understand the social meanings that objects once held.