Gezicht op de tuin van het kasteel Axarienne te Sint-Petersburg 18th century

This print depicts the garden of the Axarienne castle in St. Petersburg and was made by Basset in the late 18th or early 19th century. It offers a glimpse into the meticulously designed landscapes enjoyed by the Russian aristocracy, reflecting their embrace of European ideals and power. Yet, the manicured gardens and leisurely figures invite us to consider the labor and social hierarchies that made such displays of opulence possible. The print does not explicitly show, but implicitly evokes questions about the lives of the serfs and workers who maintained these spaces. Their stories are an integral, if invisible, part of this vista. How might the experience of viewing this garden differ depending on one’s position within this social structure? As you look, consider the emotional weight of exclusion and the complex relationship between beauty, privilege, and exploitation.