Zicht op de binnenplaats van het kasteel van Nantes 1853 - 1856

Léon Auguste Asselineau created this print of the courtyard of the Château de Nantes in France, sometime in the 19th century. It presents us with a paradox. On the one hand, the detail in the architecture speaks to the enduring power of the French aristocracy, and the buildings that housed them. Castles were the ultimate status symbol, after all. On the other hand, we see piles of cannonballs stacked in the courtyard, a not-so-subtle reminder of the violence upon which that power was built. We might also ask how the castle was being used at the time this image was made. France was in a period of great social upheaval, and many aristocratic buildings were being repurposed for use by the state. Understanding this image fully requires delving into archives, libraries, and other historical resources, so we can fully understand the push and pull between tradition and progress in 19th century France.