Pijprokende man met geweer en vrouw met twee honden op een rococo-ornament 1731 - 1788

Johann Esaias Nilson created this print of a pipe-smoking man with a gun, a woman with two dogs, all set on a rococo ornament. It is currently held in the Rijksmuseum. The print is a wonderful example of the Rococo style that dominated much of Europe in the 18th century. Originating in France, the Rococo soon became popular in the German lands where Nilson was working. The Rococo style moved away from the stern formality of the preceding Baroque. It embraced lightness, elegance, and playfulness, qualities we see in the asymmetrical ornament, the delicate foliage, and the charming figures with their canine companions. Rococo became associated with the aristocratic elites and their pursuit of pleasure, with critics seeing it as frivolous and decadent. Prints like this, requiring skill and artistry, helped spread the Rococo aesthetic, shaping taste and influencing the decorative arts. If we want to understand its significance, we need to delve into the print rooms and archives. Art history is social history.