Parterre van tuin van Savigny 1670 - 1680

This detailed garden design, “Parterre van tuin van Savigny,” was conceived by André Le Nôtre. The symmetrical arrangements of floral motifs, bordered by a regimented pattern of what appears to be spades, speak to a deep human desire for order. These recurring botanical elements, carefully entwined, hark back to ancient Roman friezes and even earlier Minoan frescoes. Consider how the curling tendrils and stylized leaves echo through time, appearing on Renaissance tapestries and Baroque ironwork. The spade motif, repeated along the border, adds a layer of intrigue. Originally associated with labor, this emblem transforms into a symbol of leisure, a transformation reflecting the societal shifts over centuries. It reminds us of the complex ways symbols evolve, influenced by collective desires and anxieties. The image triggers a subconscious yearning for nature, tamed and refined, a testament to our ongoing negotiation with the wild.