Schenkkan met tuit naar rechts 1648 - 1655

Jean Lepautre created this print of a jug in the 17th century, at a time when France was consolidating its power and influence under Louis XIV. Lepautre, working in the printmaking boom of the era, was instrumental in shaping the visual culture of the time, particularly through his ornate designs for objects like this jug. Note the classical figures around the body. These connect to the social elite's taste for classical antiquity, which they appropriated to legitimize their power. The jug becomes a symbol of status, reflecting the owner’s taste and wealth. Such objects were not merely decorative, they were tools used to reinforce social hierarchies. Lepautre's skill lay in creating designs that resonated with the desires and aspirations of a very specific audience, reinforcing their worldview through the art they consumed. Think about the emotional investment in luxury. Who gets to feel that? Who is excluded?