An eighteenth-century etching by Hendrik de Leth showing the rear facade of Huis ter Meer, a grand country estate along the Vecht river.

This etching by Hendrik de Leth depicts the rear facade of Huis ter Meer, a grand country estate situated along the Vecht river in Maarssen. The work belongs to a tradition of Dutch topographical prints that documented the opulent summer residences of wealthy merchants and regents during the eighteenth century. De Leth, a cartographer and engraver, captures the architectural precision of the manor, with its symmetrical windows, decorative roofline, and formal garden elements.

The composition is structured around the river Vecht, which serves as the primary transport route for the estate. In the foreground, two figures engage in fishing on the riverbank, while a small pleasure boat glides across the water. These details provide a sense of scale and daily activity, contrasting with the rigid, orderly nature of the estate grounds. The trees are rendered with repetitive, rhythmic lines, typical of the period's printmaking techniques, which sought to balance natural form with decorative order.

The print includes bilingual captions in Dutch and French, a common practice for works intended for a wider European audience interested in the Dutch Republic's prosperity. The sky is filled with light, cloud-filled strokes, adding a sense of atmosphere to the scene. This work offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Dutch elite, who invested heavily in these country houses to escape the urban density of Amsterdam. The etching demonstrates the technical skill of the period, using varied line weights to distinguish between the textures of the stone facade, the foliage, and the water's surface. It remains a valuable record of the architectural history of the Vecht region.