Gezicht op de bergen bij Alexandrië after 1759

Jeanne Deny created this print, titled 'View of the Mountains near Alexandria,' as an etching. Deny, working in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, occupied a unique position as a woman artist in a male-dominated field. This image, dedicated to Madame la Marquise de Villette, invites us to consider the role of women both as artists and patrons during this period. The print depicts a pastoral scene, but it’s important to remember that these idealized landscapes often served as a form of escapism from the social and political unrest brewing at the time. Who is included in this landscape and who is notably absent? How does the image reflect the complex relationship between the elite and the working class in pre-revolutionary Europe? Though seemingly serene, consider how this print might subtly reinforce or challenge societal norms, reflecting the artist's own position and perspective.