Zicht op de tuin van het Palais-Royal 1844 - 1845

Louis Jules Arnout created this print of the garden of the Palais-Royal in Paris using lithography, a technique that democratized image-making during the 19th century. Arnout’s depiction presents a meticulously ordered public space, populated by figures who, upon closer inspection, represent a diverse cross-section of Parisian society. While the Palais-Royal had a history as a gathering place for revolutionaries, by Arnout’s time, it had become a social hub. Yet, beneath this veneer of public harmony, the garden was also known as a site of commercial sex work. This tension—between a space of apparent leisure and a place of hidden commerce—adds a layer of complexity to Arnout’s seemingly straightforward illustration. The print offers a window into the social dynamics of 19th-century Paris, inviting us to consider the diverse experiences of those who occupied this iconic space. It reminds us that public spaces are never neutral; they reflect and shape the societal issues of their time.