Vue du Chateau de Trianon du Cote du Parterre 

Jean-Baptiste Rigaud's print, "Vue du Chateau de Trianon du Cote du Parterre," captures a scene of leisure and privilege. Created during a time of rigid social hierarchies, the image presents an idealized view of the French aristocracy at play in the gardens of the Château de Trianon. The figures, elegantly dressed, stroll and converse amidst manicured lawns, reinforcing the image of a refined and ordered society. However, this idyllic scene obscures the vast social inequalities of the period, where the opulence enjoyed by a select few was built upon the labor and suffering of many. Rigaud's print, while seemingly innocuous, perpetuates a narrative of power and privilege. As viewers, we might question whose stories are left untold in this carefully constructed image of aristocratic life and what is strategically omitted to maintain this facade of grandeur and ease. The print serves as a reminder of the power dynamics inherent in representation and the importance of critically examining the narratives that art conveys.