Gezicht op vijver in het park van Tanlay 1631 - 1661

Israel Silvestre created this print called "View of the pond in the park of Tanlay" sometime in the 17th century. Silvestre was a draughtsman and printmaker, attached to the court of Louis XIV, and was commissioned to document the French aristocracy’s estates. This image of the park of Tanlay presents a highly ordered landscape, reflecting the values of the aristocratic elite. Yet, look closely at those who inhabit this space. The figures in the foreground seem to be of a different class than those strolling in the background. They are dark, close to the water, almost outside of the manicured landscape. Are they part of the idealized view, or do they exist outside of it? Silvestre's image not only reflects the beauty of the landscape, but also the class divisions that defined French society. It invites us to reflect on who has access to beauty and leisure, and who is relegated to the margins.