Console met bladmotieven 1772 - 1779

Jean Pelletier created this print titled "Console met bladmotieven" sometime in the 18th century. As an ornamental designer, Pelletier was contributing to the visual language of his era, a language steeped in social stratification and cultural aspirations. Prints like these served as guides for artisans and craftsmen, dictating the aesthetic of interior spaces for the wealthy. Note the botanical motifs and symmetrical designs, hallmarks of the Rococo style, which were very fashionable at this time. But beyond mere decoration, these consoles speak to the power dynamics inherent in design. The elite dictated taste, and artisans, often anonymous, executed their vision. Consider how the labor and skill of countless individuals were funneled into creating an environment of cultivated leisure for a select few. How do we reconcile the beauty and craftsmanship with the social inequities that made it possible?