Tombe met staande figuren en medaillon after 1777

This anonymous print shows an antique tomb with standing figures and a medallion, and is held at the Rijksmuseum. Prints like this were often produced in France and other European centers to circulate ideas about design and taste. Here we see the influence of classical forms, such as the pyramid and the statuary, combined with a fascination for ancient civilizations. Notice the overall symmetry and the arrangement of the different elements of the tomb, reflecting the influence of classical architecture. This interest in antiquity was fueled by archaeological discoveries and scholarly studies. These finds created a kind of visual vocabulary used to express power, legacy, and a connection to a glorious past. The design is of its time, self-consciously conservative, and harkening back to the distant past. To understand the print better, we can look at architectural treatises, design books, and the history of collecting. By considering these resources we can reveal the social conditions that shape artistic production and the public role of art.