Vooraanzicht van het kasteel van Meudon 1675 - 1717

This is Pierre Aveline's engraving of the Château de Meudon. It gives us a glimpse into the opulent lifestyle of the French aristocracy during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During Aveline's lifetime, French society was deeply structured by class, with the aristocracy enjoying immense wealth and power, while the majority of the population lived in poverty. This image reflects those social divisions. The Chateau was once a symbol of royal power as a former residence of the French royal family. Consider the figures in the foreground. They are elegantly dressed, leisurely strolling through manicured gardens. Their lives stand in stark contrast to the lives of those who toiled to build and maintain such estates. The Chateau stands as a monument to privilege and excess. It is a reminder of the inequalities deeply embedded in French society at the time.