Vaas met slangen 1755 - 1768

L.N. Percenet made this print of a vase with snakes using etching, a printmaking technique, in the eighteenth century in the Netherlands. Notice how the image is framed by a thin, ruled line. The urn sits on a shelf, as if in a display case. This is a design after an antique. It shows how the art world in eighteenth century Europe looked to classical antiquity for inspiration, reproducing and reimagining classical forms in new contexts. The snake imagery suggests the ancient Greco-Roman world, with its emphasis on myth and symbolism. What is the public role of this design? It seems intended for an elite audience, trained to understand and appreciate the allusions to classical art. The image would have been reproduced in a book of designs, shaping the aesthetic sensibilities of artists, craftsmen, and collectors. By researching the artist, the image, and the collecting habits of the Dutch elite, we can better understand the social life of this object.