Jeugd 1735

This print, titled 'Jeugd' or 'Youth' was made by Nicolas de Larmessin in France. Though undated, its style points to the early 18th century, a period when the French court, under Louis XIV, exerted significant cultural influence across Europe. The print depicts a scene of leisure and courtship, common themes in Rococo art. However, Larmessin was also active as a printmaker reproducing portraits of members of the Royal Academy. The print's self-conscious playfulness and attention to the fleeting pleasures of youth can be seen as both reflecting and shaping aristocratic values. To understand this work better, we might look at period literature, fashion, and dance. These resources can reveal more about the social rituals and expectations surrounding youth and love in the 18th century, and the role of images in shaping those expectations. It is the historian’s task to uncover these connections, reminding us that art is never created in a vacuum but is always a product of its time.