Kandelaars met maskers 1772 - 1779

Editor: This is “Kandelaars met maskers,” or “Candelabras with Masks,” an engraving made between 1772 and 1779 by Jean Pelletier. They feel both very grand and classical but also playful, with the masks and ribbons. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Ah, an excellent observation! The masks immediately draw my attention. Consider what a mask represents. It conceals, sure, but it also *reveals* something about identity, performance, ritual. These aren’t just decorative faces; they’re echoes of ancient theater, hinting at roles and dramas played out by candlelight. What kind of emotional impact do you feel emanating from these faces? Editor: A slight feeling of being watched, almost? But also a sense of history, I guess, knowing that these classical motifs were important long before this drawing. Curator: Exactly. Pelletier uses a very deliberate visual language that draws from classical antiquity to convey authority and refinement – yet also infuses it with the liveliness of the Rococo. The formal structure of the candlesticks, based on classical columns, lends them gravitas, doesn't it? But look at the ribbon on the right. It feels almost nonchalant, softening the rigid symmetry. Where do you imagine these candelabras would have been placed and what impact do you imagine these might have upon that space? Editor: I’d picture them in a fancy dining room. Somewhere meant to impress, where conversations about art or politics might have happened, fueled by candlelight. It makes me think about how objects gain meaning depending on their location and who uses them. Curator: Precisely. These candlesticks illuminate not just rooms, but also ideas and aspirations of a particular cultural moment. They remind us of how forms and symbols echo and change across time. Editor: That’s so fascinating—I'll definitely look at design objects differently from now on, thinking about the layered history embedded within them.