Gezicht op de grot en de groene wandelplaats in de tuinen van het Hof te Dieren c. 1700

This print, made by Pieter Schenk around the turn of the 18th century, gives us a birds-eye view of the gardens at Hof te Dieren. Schenk used the intaglio process, cutting lines into a copper plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The precision of the engraving is remarkable, especially when you consider the repetitive patterns of the architecture. Look closely at the trellis-like structure overhead. This wasn't just a feat of artistic skill; it speaks to the era's obsession with imposing order onto nature. The gardens themselves, with their rigid geometry, represent an attempt to master the natural world. This aesthetic of control extends to labor and class. Think of the immense work it took to maintain such a manicured landscape, the small army of gardeners needed. Here, the print doesn't just show us a pretty picture; it reveals a social hierarchy, a world where human effort is bent to the will of the elite. It shows how aesthetics and labor, are intertwined, reflecting the values of the time.