Lodewijk XIII en zijn maîtresse Marie de Hautefort 1731

Bernard Picart created this print of Louis XIII and his mistress, Marie de Hautefort, sometime between 1696 and 1733 using etching. We see Louis with his mistress in what seems to be a private chamber. They are both elaborately dressed, highlighting their elevated social status. Picart made this print decades after the reign of Louis XIII. The French court at Versailles influenced European culture through fashion, etiquette, and the arts. Images like these are often commissioned by or for those in power, reinforcing their status. However, this intimate scene hints at the scandals and personal lives of royalty. Was Picart presenting courtly life in a positive or critical light? To fully understand this artwork, historians might explore court documents, fashion trends, and political events. Art always exists within broader social and institutional contexts, so we must consider the world in which it was made and viewed.