l'Hôtel des Invalides van af de Boulevard Vaugirard 1682 - 1686

Curator: Well, hello! This engraving by Daniël Marot, dating from 1682 to 1686, presents the Hôtel des Invalides as viewed from Boulevard Vaugirard. It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. It is a fascinating piece! Editor: Intricate! From this bird's eye, it feels more like a meticulously planned stage set than a city. It's so symmetrical it's almost unnerving! Like an Escher drawing of power. Curator: Exactly! Marot was renowned for his expertise in architectural ornamentation, and this showcases his eye for capturing architectural grandeur. The Hôtel des Invalides, built for veterans, becomes a statement of Louis XIV's authority. All that rational ordering! Editor: Yes! The sun-king's ultimate flex! It has a curious relationship to the baroque. So much symmetry and rational control working so diligently. What baroque feeling there is emerges from the dome and surface ornamentation, otherwise, this feels... controlled? Curator: I agree, this is a very Baroque take on controlling chaos. If you examine the allegorical emblems, you'll see more symbolism related to glory and military achievements, each designed to promote the King's image. Marot is employing visual rhetoric to construct a narrative around Louis XIV. Editor: These visual references all point towards what's "appropriate" behavior in society, as though he's mapping out more than just physical space. What does the design dictate? Is there any room for freedom of expression outside those paths of rigorously cultivated shrubbery? I see a world attempting to put its traumas and wounds into order! Curator: That's the thing about symbols though isn't it? There's the intended meaning and then what history adds. Here, it might read like a poignant symbol for how we cope with lasting war and trauma. This meticulous structure might stand as an active symbol for control that feels slightly tragic, maybe. Editor: Looking again, there is an eerie beauty about it that seeps through. So maybe a controlled, but creative vision in retrospect. It seems to say much more than simply that something is visually "perfect"! Thank you for sharing these aspects, because there are so many interesting avenues one can go down in understanding this cityscape.