Schenkkan met wijndrinkende putti 1657

Françoise Bouzonnet created this print of a jug decorated with wine-drinking putti, but we don't know exactly when. Bouzonnet was the daughter of a goldsmith, and during the 17th century she defied the expectations of women by pursuing a career as an engraver in France. The image presents a highly ornamented jug, in which small figures are indulging in the pleasure of drinking wine. Bouzonnet’s detailed etching technique captures the opulence and luxury of elite culture, whilst subtly challenging the dominant gender norms of her time. As a woman artist, she navigated the constraints of a male-dominated art world, expressing her unique perspective through the meticulous rendering of decorative arts. Consider the layers of identity at play here: the artist's gender, the privileged status of the jug's original owner, and the playful representation of classical motifs. How might Bouzonnet have seen herself in relation to these themes of indulgence and social status? The image resonates as both a celebration of beauty, and a statement of personal and artistic independence.