Gezicht op de grote vijver met fontein en de orangerie van het kasteel van Meudon 1675 - 1717

Pierre Aveline created this print of the Château de Meudon, its fountain, and surrounding gardens sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries. During this time, the French monarchy was obsessed with displays of power and wealth through architecture and landscape design. Yet, these manicured gardens and grand buildings came at a cost. Think about the immense labor required to construct and maintain such a space, and who had access to it. The figures leisurely strolling through the grounds likely represent the aristocracy, a stark contrast to the working class who were excluded from such spaces and bore the economic burden of their creation. The gardens, therefore, become a stage for social hierarchy, illustrating who belongs and who is left out. This image is a window into a world of privilege, reflecting both the beauty and the social inequalities of its time.