The Snack 1750 - 1793

Louis Marin Bonnet created "The Snack," sometime before his death in 1793. In this color chalk manner print, we see a snapshot of aristocratic life, but it's also a window into the complex social hierarchies of 18th-century France. Notice the figures arranged in a garden setting: a woman in a luxurious blue dress, a child by her side, and a man in a red coat. These are the elites, enjoying leisure and pleasure. Behind them stands a Black servant, an enslaved person, attending to their needs. Bonnet doesn't shy away from depicting this figure, yet he is relegated to the background, a shadow that emphasizes the privileges of the white family. The presence of this servant speaks volumes about the economic and social underpinnings of this lifestyle. The comforts enjoyed by the elite are directly tied to the exploitation and dehumanization of others. While the scene might seem charming at first glance, it's underscored by the realities of colonialism and slavery, a stark reminder of the human cost of luxury.