L'Arc de Triomphe 

Jean-Baptiste Rigaud rendered this print, “L’Arc de Triomphe,” depicting a vibrant social scene set against an elaborate architectural backdrop. Rigaud, working during a time of evolving class structures, captures the performance of social identity against the backdrop of the French elite. The architecture almost becomes a stage upon which class distinctions are displayed. Consider the figures populating Rigaud's scene, frozen in a ballet of social choreography; the setting, with its dramatic fountains and meticulously planned layout, invites us to consider how spaces are designed to both enable and restrict movement and interaction. There's an emotional resonance, too, in the implied narratives of those present. Rigaud's print does more than merely reflect its era; it actively participates in constructing its visual and social codes. We are prompted to consider how the creation and consumption of art can shape the very fabric of society.