Fontein met twee etages before 1682

Editor: This drawing, “Fontein met twee etages,” by Jean Lepautre, was created before 1682 and now resides at the Rijksmuseum. It's rendered in ink, using engraving techniques, which lends a distinctive texture to the tiered fountain design. I'm struck by how ornate and extravagant it appears. What is your take on it? Curator: Well, let’s consider this through the lens of its materiality. Lepautre wasn’t just creating an image; he was showcasing the immense labor and resources required to produce such a spectacle. Think about the stone, the hydraulic engineering… Each element speaks to power, not just aesthetic beauty. Do you see how the controlled flow of water signifies control over nature itself, and, by extension, society? Editor: I see your point. The water, especially with it being an engraving, almost looks solid! Like a cascade of glass rather than something fluid and natural. Does the medium, the engraving itself, relate to the social context? Curator: Absolutely. Engravings, while seemingly delicate, were a form of mass production in their time. This image could be disseminated, allowing the aspirational upper classes to consume an idealized version of luxury. Lepautre's skilled hand and the printer's labor make this extravagance accessible, though only visually. It's a controlled fantasy offered for purchase. Editor: So, the value isn't just in the depicted fountain, but in the social function of the image itself as a commodity? Curator: Precisely! It brings into focus how artistic creation intertwines with systems of patronage, production, and consumption. What do you think about how such images can then begin to inform actual architecture? Editor: It's fascinating! I’m realizing how much the meaning resides not just in the 'what' but the 'how' and 'why' it was made. The artist and engraver as...factory. Curator: Indeed. Examining the processes unveils so much about the societal structures it mirrors and reinforces. Editor: I hadn't considered how much the production shaped its meaning. Thank you!