Vaas met drie oren 1729 - 1737

Gabriel Huquier made this engraving of a vase sometime between 1730 and 1772. The print testifies to the rising status of decorative objects during the reign of Louis XV. The vase itself is an aesthetic object designed to appeal to aristocratic tastes. Its classical form evokes the grandeur of the past, which was typical of the era. We can see this taste reflected in contemporary interior design, architecture, and fashion, all of which emphasized elegance and refinement. But this print, like other engravings and drawings of the period, also served a very practical function. It allowed craftsmen to reproduce such luxury items on a mass scale, democratizing the decorative arts and expanding the market for luxury goods. By studying prints like this one, we can gain insight into the economic and social forces that shaped artistic production in 18th-century France.