Tekstblad met verklaring van de prent over Zichtkunde, p. 38 1695

This is page 38 of 'Text Sheet with explanation of the print on Optics', an engraving made in France by Charles Perrault in the late 17th century. In this period, art was closely linked to the power of the French monarchy and the courtly culture of Versailles. Perrault, who would later become famous for his fairy tales, was deeply involved in the intellectual debates of his time. He served as the secretary to Jean-Baptiste Colbert, Louis XIV's powerful minister. Perrault also played a role in the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, an institution that shaped artistic standards. This text, titled "The Cabinet of Fine Arts," reveals a world where art and science were intertwined. It reflects the era's fascination with optics, perspective, and the science of seeing. What we can learn from such texts is how central art theory was to artistic production in this period, and how institutions like the Academy shaped artistic taste. Historians often turn to texts like this to better understand the role of art in society, and its power to reflect or challenge existing norms.