Arabesken met vrouwen en sfinxen 1803

This ornamental print was produced by Charles Pierre Joseph Normand in France. Though undated, the image’s visual style references the Directoire period, which lasted from 1795-1799. The print is rich with allegorical figures such as sphinxes, classical vases, and female figures. The Directoire style took hold after the French Revolution and was an attempt to break free from the perceived decadence of the Louis XVI style. Artists turned to ancient Greek and Roman art and architecture for inspiration, which was considered more egalitarian. This ornamental print exemplifies the neoclassical style by combining classical motifs with a more streamlined and simplified design. Images like these were often made as models for architecture or interior decoration. To understand art like this more deeply, historians research the art market, political climate, and popular taste of the time. That helps to reveal the social context in which it was produced.