Allegorische titelpagina met de personificatie van Frankrijk / Lodewijk XIII en zijn maîtresse Marie de Hautefort 1731

Bernard Picart created this allegorical title page featuring the personification of France, Louis XIII, and his mistress Marie de Hautefort sometime between 1673 and 1733. On the left, we see France depicted as a powerful woman, surrounded by symbols of both prosperity and chaos. To the right, Louis XIII extends a pair of tongs to Marie de Hautefort, allegedly too demure to take the billet-doux with her own hands. Picart situates the narratives of state alongside the personal drama of the royal court, subtly commenting on the intertwined nature of political power and personal relationships. This resonates with the experiences of women in positions of power, who often find their public roles shaped by their private lives and relationships. The print invites us to consider the dynamics of desire, propriety, and power at play within the French court.