Twee huizen en bassins 1703 - 1712

Daniël Marot created this print, "Twee huizen en bassins," sometime in the late 17th or early 18th century. Marot's identity as a Huguenot, who fled France due to religious persecution, deeply influenced his artistic trajectory. In this print, we see his refined aesthetic, shaped by the French court, combined with the experience of exile and adaptation. The image depicts an idealized landscape, complete with symmetrical architecture and tranquil pools. Yet, if you look closely, there is an emotional undercurrent. Does the serene setting evoke a longing for a lost homeland? Or does it represent the construction of a new identity in a foreign land? The controlled nature within the landscape invites us to consider the complexities of displacement, and the ways in which individuals and communities rebuild their lives and identities in the face of adversity.