Zicht op het klooster van Cimiez en de abdij Saint-Pons de Nice 1856 - 1857

Jacques Guiaud made this print of the Cimiez monastery and the Saint-Pons abbey in Nice, immortalizing a serene vista. As we consider Guiaud's print, it is important to remember that in the 19th century, travel and leisure became increasingly accessible, yet it was highly stratified by class. The figures in the foreground are a crucial element: Are they local inhabitants or tourists? Their presence invites us to consider the dynamic between those who inhabit the landscape and those who consume it. This image engages with the themes of accessibility, tourism, and the inherent power dynamics. It subtly raises questions about who has the privilege to experience and document such beauty, and at what cost to the local communities and the environment itself. Ultimately, this print encapsulates the complex interplay between seeing, experiencing, and belonging within a landscape ripe with historical and social context.