Gezicht op Meulan-en-Yvelines 1657

Here is an anonymous rendering of Gezicht op Meulan-en-Yvelines in pen and watercolor. In pre-industrial societies, landscapes weren't just pretty scenes; they were statements of power and control. Who got to own land? Who decided what happened on it? This image reflects a very gendered history of ownership. Men were often the landowners, the decision-makers, while women's access to land and resources was often mediated through their relationships with men. The walled city becomes a symbol of patriarchy, with its clear boundaries and controlled access. Who is kept out, and who is allowed in? These structures often reflect social hierarchies, reinforcing existing power structures that privilege certain groups over others. Looking at this image, I wonder about the relationship between those who live within the walls, and those who live outside them. How does this vista reflect power?