Solon zijn wetten verdedigend tegen de bezwaren van de Atheners 1717

Gaspard Duchange created this print, "Solon zijn wetten verdedigend tegen de bezwaren van de Atheners", sometime before his death in 1757. It presents a scene of law-making in ancient Athens. The image comes to us from 18th century France, a period of political upheaval, philosophical innovation, and intense interest in classical antiquity. French society was rigidly stratified and dominated by an aristocratic class. As such, Neoclassical art became a way for artists to explore themes of civic virtue, justice, and rational governance, sometimes in contrast to the realities of their own time. The Rijksmuseum, where this work is held, was founded at the end of the 18th century to exhibit collections of Dutch art and history. Duchange's print reflects the Enlightenment's fascination with ancient Greece as the birthplace of democracy. By depicting Solon, the Athenian lawmaker, he implicitly comments on the social structures of his own time, suggesting perhaps that laws should be grounded in reason and defended against the whims of the populace. To fully appreciate this print, we can consider the historical context of 18th-century France, examining the writings of Enlightenment thinkers and the social conditions that gave rise to revolutionary sentiment.