Thomas Rousset: Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons

Renowned for its expert restoration of iconic properties, the luxury hotel group Belmond is now collaborating with a select group of photographers to create a series of photographic works that respond to the unique character of each hotel and its surroundings.

Rousset’s irreverent approach made him the perfect choice to showcase the extraordinary stories that lie behind Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons, a hotel in Oxfordshire, England. Rousset’s images of this 15th-century manor house were inspired by two distinct sources. Firstly, he drew on his own imagination of the luxurious lifestyle of the English aristocracy. Secondly, he was influenced “by the unreal, fantastical aspect” of the countryside lifestyle as depicted in old British films. By placing ordinary objects and figures in bizarre, dreamlike contexts, he disrupts the viewers’ sense of reality, prompting them to reflect on what they are seeing. His fairytale images are not simply a showcase for the amenities and aesthetics of the hotel; they tell a story, creating an intriguing visual narrative that encourages viewers to project themselves into these exquisite settings.