Zicht op de Villa Poggio Reale met bomenlaan in Napels 1846

Charles-Claude Bachelier made this print of the Villa Poggio Reale with a tree-lined avenue in Naples, sometime before his death in 1848. The print offers us a glimpse into the urban planning ideals of the time, yet also speaks to the sharp class divisions that defined Naples. The wide avenue, designed for leisurely strolls and public display, was primarily the domain of the upper classes. While Bachelier’s print invites us to admire the beauty of Naples, it also subtly reveals the social and economic disparities of the time. Who gets to enjoy this space, and who is excluded? The artist's choice to focus on this particular view, and the way he presents the figures within it, tell a story about power, privilege, and access in 19th-century Naples.