Ontwerp voor een fontein 1705 - 1769

Editor: This is a study for a fountain, sketched between 1705 and 1769 by Daniël Marot. It’s done in ink, pencil, and wash. I'm struck by how whimsical it is, like something out of a fairytale, yet grounded with careful detail. What's your take on it? Curator: Fairytale is the word, isn't it? Marot had such a knack for injecting this delightful drama into the most functional things. A fountain, no less! It’s Baroque dynamism, of course, all those curves and flourishes – but with a playful wink. I find myself wondering what story Marot was telling himself while drafting it. That reclining figure of the child feels almost…mischievous? Don’t you think? Editor: Mischevious, yes! Perhaps he’s inviting the viewer into the fountain's fantastical world. But the backdrop of that green wash seems almost unfinished... Curator: Indeed! It's not just the fountain itself he's designing; he’s also considering the *setting*. It’s as if the architecture *grows* organically. It almost asks to not be viewed alone. Now, if it really came to be and was erected somewhere in its original context... the possibilities! Editor: It's fascinating to see the artist’s vision in its raw form, where practicality meets pure imagination. Curator: Exactly! And it serves as a great reminder that sometimes, the most profound impact comes from marrying function with unrestrained artistic freedom. A blank page transformed.