Elegant gezelschap rond een tafel 1722

Bernard Picart created this print, "Elegant Company Around a Table," sometime around 1722, using etching. It's a scene of leisure, but what does it reveal about the society of its time? Notice how the gathering is divided: at the table we see refined individuals dining, while in the background, others are dancing. This division reflects the hierarchical nature of 18th-century society, where access to leisure and pleasure was dictated by class. Picart, as an engraver and a member of the French intellectual circles in the Netherlands, was acutely aware of these social stratifications. The work subtly emphasizes the privileges of the elite. "Les Plaisirs de la Jeunesse," or "The Pleasures of Youth," the inscription reads. But whose youth? Whose pleasures? Picart invites us to reflect on these questions. The print captures a world of refinement, yet it also hints at the inequalities that underpinned it. The emotional impact of the artwork is in this duality—a celebration tinged with critical observation.