Gezicht op het paleis en de tuinen van Fontainebleau 1614

Michel Lasne created this print of the Palace and Gardens of Fontainebleau sometime between 1590 and 1667. The bird’s eye view captures the geometric precision of the formal gardens, reflecting the power and control of the French monarchy during that era. Lasne’s detailed engraving invites us to consider the cultural and social implications of such spaces. The gardens were not merely aesthetic; they were stages for courtly life, reinforcing social hierarchies and aristocratic identity. Who had access to these spaces, and what behaviors were deemed acceptable? Consider, too, the labor required to maintain such a landscape. The manicured lawns and sculpted hedges stand in stark contrast to the lives of the working class who toiled to create and uphold this vision of aristocratic leisure. This image serves as a reminder of the complex interplay between beauty, power, and social inequality that define this historical moment.