Gezicht op kasteel Bury 1649

Israel Silvestre made this print of the Château de Bury in France. Although undated, it was likely made around 1642. The image presents the chateau as a seat of power and elegance. What does it mean to see a building memorialized like this? Silvestre’s print offers a glimpse into the lives of the elite during the 17th century. It reflects a society deeply divided by class, where wealth and status dictated one’s experience of the world. Architectural prints were both documentation and propaganda. They were tools to highlight one's lineage and cement their place in the social hierarchy. The Chateau de Bury, prominently displayed, becomes a symbol of wealth, lineage, and power. Consider, though, what is not shown here. The labor, exploitation, and resources needed to maintain such grandeur are absent from the image. What kind of stories remain untold? This print immortalizes the image of the ruling class, while it invisibilizes the lives of those on whose backs this splendor was built.