Trap in het Palais Royal te Parijs 1824 - 1829

Editor: Here we have "Trap in het Palais Royal te Parijs" by Jean-Baptiste Arnout, dating from 1824 to 1829. It's a watercolour drawing, and it has this very subtle, almost faded quality. It gives a sense of the past. What can you tell me about this work? Curator: Well, the Palais Royal was a crucial site of social and political life in Paris. Arnout's rendering captures that in-between space, a stairway as theatre. Note how the architecture emphasizes hierarchy. Editor: I do see the staircase emphasizes hierarchy, who had access to this space? Curator: Precisely! Consider that the Palais Royal, while nominally a royal space, became a commercial and social hub after the Revolution. These promenades were meticulously surveilled and socially coded spaces. This stairway, connecting different levels, symbolizes access and restriction based on social standing, you might say. Editor: So the artist is hinting at the power dynamics at play? Curator: Exactly. The Palais Royal was known for its gambling dens, cafes, and brothels. Arnout captures the subtle but present policing of these activities by the figures of authority visible in the artwork. Do you see any signs of the blending of public and private life? Editor: I think I see what you mean about the blending of spaces and power now. This ordinary scene is anything but. Curator: I find it amazing that the drawing appears ordinary. Its significance lies in its role of documenting this important period. Editor: It really makes you consider the everyday politics of being in a place like this at that time. Thanks for pointing that out. Curator: My pleasure. Hopefully we are thinking more critically about urban environments today!