Panel with herm and two sphinxes 1675 - 1748

Moritz Bodenehr created this panel with herm and two sphinxes using etching techniques. Floral ornamentation and mythical figures such as the sphinx were commonly used in Baroque and Rococo design. It was a period when institutions like royal courts and the church wielded significant power, often using art and architecture to display their wealth and prestige. Ornamentation, like we see here, served as a visual marker of status and sophistication. This panel, made in Germany, reflects the hierarchical social structures of the time. Consider the role of the artist in this context. Bodenehr, like many artists, was employed by wealthy patrons to create images that reinforced their power. The Rijksmuseum, where this etching is housed, became an institution in its own right, shaping our understanding of art through its curatorial choices. To truly understand this etching, we could delve into the history of decorative arts in 18th-century Germany, examining pattern books and architectural designs to better understand the visual codes that would have resonated with its original audience.