Ornament met een duivel op een sokkel met fruit op de grond ervoor c. 1725 - 1750

Gabriel Huquier made this print of an ornament with a devil in the 18th century. It was a time when the decorative arts flourished in France, with prints like this one serving as inspiration for craftsmen. The devil perched atop a pedestal, surrounded by fruit, is an intriguing combination of the grotesque and the natural. These kinds of images circulated in print, influencing style and taste. Consider the institutions that supported such artistic production, such as the Royal Academy. Its emphasis on decorum and order shaped artistic styles, but the inclusion of a devil hints at the undercurrents of the subversive. The devil was a popular symbol, often associated with chaos and disorder, and the fruit may symbolize temptation. To fully understand this print, we can look at the art market of the time, which was shaped by institutions such as the Royal Academy. This print gives us insight into the complex interplay between social structures, artistic expression, and the institutions that mediated them.