A Picnic Party 1716

Claude Simpol made this drawing, A Picnic Party, with pen, ink, and wash, probably around 1716, the year of his death. It's a small scene, only a few inches across, but it encapsulates the social life of early 18th-century France. We see three figures in an informal outdoor setting. One pours wine, while the others relax. The attire suggests a moment of leisure for the upper classes, but what’s really striking is the casualness of the scene. This wasn't the France of Louis XIV anymore, with its formal gardens and strict etiquette. Following the Sun King's death, French society had begun to loosen up. Art academies still taught the classical style, but artists began to create more intimate and playful works for a new elite audience. To understand this drawing fully, we might consult sources such as fashion histories, social diaries, and even wine production records. The historian can help us see how art reflects changing social norms.