Ontmoeting tussen Lodewijk XIV en de hertogin van Fontange 1731

Editor: Here we have Bernard Picart's 1731 engraving, "Meeting between Louis XIV and the Duchess of Fontange." It looks like a clandestine meeting in the woods, almost like a stolen moment. What catches your eye in this piece? Curator: What I find striking is the performative aspect of power dynamics represented here. Louis XIV, the Sun King, is depicted not in a grand hall, but seemingly vulnerable in nature, engaged in a private moment. Consider how this idyllic setting serves to mask, perhaps even legitimize, the very real hierarchies and inequalities that underpinned the French court. How might this 'secret meeting' serve a larger narrative about power, gender and representation in 18th century France? Editor: So, the setting itself is a commentary on the complexities of the time, a deliberate choice by the artist? Curator: Exactly. Look at the hunting party in the background, still active. The leisure of the aristocracy relies on a specific structure. The secret rendezvous becomes a visual metaphor for hidden privileges and social stratifications, subtly reinforced by the picturesque scene. What impact do you think the gaze of the viewer might have on such a scene? Editor: I suppose it invites us to be complicit in witnessing something we perhaps shouldn't, making us aware of the inherent imbalance of power. It seems innocent on the surface, but is actually making a larger comment on society at the time. Curator: Precisely. And it challenges us to think about how representations of intimacy are always already political, reflecting and shaping societal norms. This engraving is not just a historical record but also an active participant in shaping perceptions of power and gender in its time. Editor: This definitely changes how I see this piece, it’s much more nuanced and subversive than I first thought. Curator: Indeed, that's the power of contextualizing art.