View of Vaux-Le-Vicomte 1680s

Adam Perelle's etching, "View of Vaux-Le-Vicomte," offers us a glimpse into the opulent world of 17th-century France. Born in 1640, Perelle lived during the reign of Louis XIV, a period defined by the consolidation of royal power and extravagant displays of wealth. This image captures the Vaux-le-Vicomte, a baroque French château that was the envy of the king himself. What's striking is not just the grandeur of the architecture, but the staged landscape teeming with figures. These carefully arranged individuals underscore the social hierarchy of the time. The etching shows how landscape and architecture were tools in the construction of identity, communicating power and status. It's a visual document that speaks volumes about the aspirations and values of an era, even as it subtly hints at the social inequalities upon which such lavishness was built.