The Marriage Contract in a Landscape 1712

Jean-Antoine Watteau painted 'The Marriage Contract in a Landscape' on canvas sometime in the early 18th century. At first glance, this painting seems to depict a joyous occasion. But Watteau made this during the Regency period in France, a time known for its societal frivolity and the rise of the bourgeoisie. The setting of the contract signing in a shadowy outdoor space hints at the hidden transactions and social climbing inherent in marriage contracts of the time. Watteau was supported by the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture in Paris. He and other members would have been very aware of the institution’s hierarchy and power. Although he was a member, Watteau challenged their conventional ideals by blurring the lines between portraiture, genre, and landscape painting in this piece. The social commentary and sly critique of the established order are what make this painting much more than a simple record of a legal agreement. Investigating archival records from the time would only enrich our understanding of how the painting relates to its time.