Panorama op de stad Parijs 1631 - 1691

Israel Silvestre created this print of Paris, sometime in the mid-17th century. The panoramic view is a popular format with a very clear purpose: to display the achievements of a great city. Look at the way Paris is presented, not as a place of human activity, but as an architectural statement. It suggests the vision of centralized power that was taking hold in France under Louis XIV. Silvestre was employed by the court, and that gives us a clue to understanding his work. The image is less about topographical accuracy and more about cultural messaging. Prints like this were part of an effort to enhance the prestige of the king by glorifying his capital. To understand more, historians will often consult archives of royal patronage and other documentary evidence about the court and its artistic projects. Because in the end, art always reflects the society that makes it possible.