Gezicht op landgoed Rijksdorp 1681 - 1728

Cornelis Elandts created this landscape print of Rijksdorp estate. The decorative border is what holds my attention; a vine motif wraps the image, echoing the classical notion of Arcadia—an unspoiled, harmonious wilderness—yet it’s manicured and controlled. This vine carries echoes of ancient Dionysian rites, symbolizing fertility and transformation. These symbols appear in works from Pompeii to Renaissance paintings, representing the cyclical patterns of nature and life. One can see it in the work of Poussin and Claude, in their ideal landscapes. Over time, these symbols of wild abandon have been tamed, framed, and cultivated in increasingly stylized ways. We see this drive echoed in this landscape itself, as untamed nature is gradually brought under human control. It reflects a deep, perhaps subconscious, desire for harmony with nature and the need to cultivate and shape it according to human ideals.