Gezicht op het Bosquet de l’Arc de Triomphe in de Tuin van Versailles after 1691

Jacques Rigaud made this print of the Bosquet de l’Arc de Triomphe in the Garden of Versailles, and though the exact date is unknown, we can place it in the first half of the 18th century. Rigaud’s detailed print captures not just the landscape, but also the social life within it. The gardens were an extension of the palace, designed not just for aesthetic pleasure but also as a stage for social performance. This was a space where the aristocracy paraded their wealth, status, and refined manners. In this carefully structured space, the rigid social hierarchy of the time was on full display, reflecting the power dynamics of the French court. The clothing, the postures, and the interactions of the figures all speak to a highly codified system of social relations, a world both beautiful and brutally exclusive. As you look at this image, consider the stories of those who were excluded from this carefully constructed paradise.