Femme de Qualite aux bain de la Sausais 1680 - 1696

This print, "Femme de Qualité aux bain de la Sausais" was made in Paris by Nicholas Arnoult. It's a fascinating glimpse into the social rituals and fantasies of the French elite. The image presents a "woman of quality" at the Sausais bath. But look closely – the scene is less about hygiene and more about displaying status and engaging in leisurely social exchange. Exoticized details – like the turbaned servant and tropical foliage – signal France's colonial reach. The print subtly comments on the artificiality of aristocratic life. The towering wigs, elaborate costumes, and carefully constructed landscape all speak to a culture obsessed with appearances and social hierarchy. The print was produced and distributed in Paris. Scrutinizing such prints through period journals and fashion plates can tell us much about the social values and political climate of the time. It reminds us that art is always embedded in a specific social and institutional context.