Traphekken 1745

Carl Albert von Lespilliez made this print of stair railings, Traphekken, at an unknown date using etching techniques. Stair railings may seem a humble subject, but their form speaks to a broader social history. Consider the era in which this design was made. Europe's aristocratic class was eager to flaunt its wealth through architectural ornamentation. This etching gives us insight into the prevailing aesthetic tastes of the time, dominated by Rococo's extravagant and fanciful style. Notice the sinuous curves and decorative flourishes. Such details served as visual markers of social status. These stair railings weren't just functional. They were statements about who belonged in these spaces and, by implication, who did not. The Rijksmuseum's curatorial records might reveal the kinds of buildings for which Lespilliez intended these designs. As historians, it's our job to connect these aesthetic choices to the social and economic conditions that made them possible.