Cour de la Fontaine van het paleis van Fontainebleau 1726 - 1743

Jan Lamsvelt made this print of the Cour de la Fontaine of the Palace of Fontainebleau, sometime around the late 17th to early 18th century. As a Dutch artist, Lamsvelt was likely drawn to the grandeur of French court life, a subject that had captivated many European artists. The image captures a moment of leisure, with figures strolling and conversing against the backdrop of the palace. The attire of the figures suggests a rigid social hierarchy of the time, and invites us to consider the politics of courtly life, where appearances and social maneuvering were paramount. Note how gender roles are reinforced through costume and posture, and how the figures are arranged to emphasize their social standing. Lamsvelt's print not only documents the physical space of Fontainebleau but also evokes the complex social dynamics that played out within its walls. It’s an invitation to reflect on the ways in which power, identity, and social class were—and perhaps still are—performed and negotiated in spaces of privilege.