Driearmige kandelaar 1667

This is Françoise Bouzonnet’s etching of a three-armed candlestick. Though we can’t pinpoint the exact date, Bouzonnet created this piece during the Baroque period, where the Catholic Church was the main patron of the arts, and where much of the art created was used to evoke a sense of awe. In many ways, this candlestick speaks to the time it was made, where we see two satyr-like men holding up a fluted bowl, from which two cherubs emerge, each holding a candle. However, unlike many of her male contemporaries, Bouzonnet’s pieces were more delicate and ornamental. As a woman in the 17th century, Bouzonnet's art serves as a testament to the constraints, and the subtle insurrections, women artists faced during this time. She could not depict whatever she wanted, and had to work with the conventions of the time. The image evokes the elaborate and theatrical nature of the Baroque era. At the same time, it subtly pushes the boundaries of conventional representation. Bouzonnet creates a space to express her unique vision, thus reflecting the ongoing negotiation between personal identity and broader societal norms.