Ontwerp voor een casement met drie spelende kindertjes 1769

Anthony Ziesenis made this design for a casement with three playing children using pen and gray ink. The cultural vogue for classicism that swept across Europe in the 18th Century encouraged artists to return to ancient sources for inspiration, so it’s no surprise to see Ziesenis taking cues from Greco-Roman art. We know that the rediscovery of Pompeii and Herculaneum in the middle of the century fueled renewed interest in classical art and architecture. Neoclassical artists like Ziesenis aimed to capture the purity and harmony of the antique world, often incorporating classical motifs such as the rams head that we can see here. In Ziesenis's native Netherlands, the drawing academies encouraged the study of classical forms, promoting a sense of decorum in the arts. The design reflects the broader social emphasis on order, balance, and the rational pursuit of knowledge during the Enlightenment. Art historians often use period documents and cultural histories to help provide insight into works such as this.