Schenkkan naar links wijzend 1661

Jean Lepautre created this print of a jug pointing to the left sometime in the 17th century. It depicts a highly ornate vessel, one fit for royalty. Lepautre was a prolific printmaker in France during the reign of Louis XIV, a period when visual spectacle became a key means of asserting power. The image creates meaning through the visual code of luxury, a cultural reference to courtly life. It reflects the historical associations with the Sun King, and how art served to legitimize his reign and reflect the cultural power of France. Lepautre was connected to the Royal court, and was known for his decorative and architectural prints. These were consumed by the wealthy, demonstrating the class and economic structure of the time. As historians, we might look to archival sources, such as court documents, to understand the function of decorative objects like these. We reflect on how art is contingent on its social and institutional context, and how it plays a crucial role in understanding the politics of imagery.