Koorhek before 1661

Jean Le Pautre made this print, called 'Koorhek', in France in the 17th century. It presents an ornate rood screen, the barrier dividing the chancel from the nave in a church. This image encapsulates the Baroque era's emphasis on ornamentation and the dramatic display of power, specifically that of the Catholic Church and the French monarchy. Notice the abundance of cherubs, busts of presumably important religious figures, and the prominent cross at the top, each a visual code communicating authority. France at this time was the seat of immense social hierarchy, with the King at its apex. The Catholic Church played a central role. Le Pautre’s print reflects and reinforces this cultural and political landscape, a world in which the church played a critical role in people's lives. Understanding this artwork requires an examination of both religious history and the history of French social and political institutions, resources often found in libraries and archives. This print, therefore, isn't just an aesthetic object; it's a historical document that can tell us much about the social structures of its time.