Untitled c. 18th century

Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non, created this etching which shows a humble dwelling with a nearby tent, sometime in the late 18th century. The Abbé de Saint-Non was part of the French Aristocracy prior to the French Revolution, and he was known for his travels and artistic endeavors. This image may at first seem like a simple landscape, but let's consider the context in which it was made. The 18th century was a time of great social inequality, and the French aristocracy lived in luxury while the majority of the population struggled to survive. Here, Saint-Non represents the home with great attention, but from a distance. What does it mean for an aristocrat to depict the home of someone from a different background? Does it reflect an interest in the lives of everyday people, or a romanticized view from a position of privilege? Perhaps it is both. The image invites us to reflect on the act of seeing, and what it means to look across social divides.