Gezicht op het Palais des Tuileries te Parijs gezien vanaf de Jardin des Tuileries after 1691

Jacques Rigaud created this view of the Tuileries Palace and Gardens in Paris using etching and watercolor. The palace, a symbol of royal power and luxury, dominates the horizon, while the gardens teem with fashionable figures strolling and socializing. The palace itself echoes the motif of the fortified castle, a symbol of power. Yet here, softened by classical architecture and manicured gardens, it represents a more refined, controlled authority. This domestication of power reflects a broader cultural shift, a theme echoed in countless depictions of rulers from antiquity to the present. The image pulsates with the rhythms of social life, a dance of gestures and glances. These recurring motifs—the promenade, the exchange of greetings—speak to a collective desire for order and harmony, a shared dream of a civilized society. They remind us of similar scenes in Roman frescoes or Renaissance court paintings. The enduring appeal of such images lies in their ability to tap into our deep-seated longing for connection and belonging, emotions that transcend time and place.