Gezicht op de lanen in het Saint James's Park te Londen 1745 - 1775

Jean-François Daumont created this print of St. James's Park in London sometime before 1775. The park is shown as a social stage, populated by members of high society. The image uses visual codes and cultural references to convey the status and privilege of those who frequent this space. St. James's Park, established as a royal park in the 17th century, was open to the public but became a fashionable spot for the elite to see and be seen. The formal gardens and tree-lined avenues offer a backdrop for social display, emphasizing the distance between the aristocracy and the working classes. We, as historians, can look at sources such as period literature, social registers, and other visual representations to better understand the complex social dynamics reflected in this print. The image serves as a reminder that the meaning of art is always contingent on the social and institutional context in which it is created and viewed.