Gezicht op het Palais du Louvre te Parijs 1818

François Louis Couché created this print of the Palais du Louvre in Paris in the late 18th or early 19th century, a period marked by significant social and political upheaval following the French Revolution. The image presents the Louvre as a symbol of Parisian grandeur and power. But, it also invites us to reflect on who had access to such spaces and the art they contained. Consider the figures in the foreground, their relationship to this imposing structure—are they participants in or merely observers of the culture held within? How might their gender, class, or race shape their interaction with this symbol of French identity? The architecture looms large over the people, and the artist has captured a distinct feeling. This work provides a lens through which to consider the complex interplay between art, power, and identity during a transformative period in European history.