Gezicht op La Maison du Seigneur in Petit Trianon bij Versailles 1897

Delizy captured “Gezicht op La Maison du Seigneur in Petit Trianon bij Versailles” in a photograph, using their camera as a tool to frame the world around them. In this photograph, the stately Maison du Seigneur is reflected in the still water, its image doubled, yet subtly distorted. The figures on the periphery are a reminder of the social stratification of the time. They suggest a world in which leisure and access to such idyllic settings were not universally shared. The very act of photographing the Petit Trianon—a space originally designed for Marie Antoinette's private retreat—speaks to the complex relationship between visibility, power, and representation. The photograph allows us to reflect on the narratives we construct around historical spaces and figures. As we contemplate this image, consider what stories it tells you about identity, privilege, and the enduring allure of Versailles.