Schelpmotief met vissen 1738 - 1749

Quentin Pierre Chedel made this print titled 'Shell Motif with Fish' using etching in the 18th century. The image depicts a collection of fish and reeds arranged decoratively upon a shell. This print speaks to the 18th-century fascination with natural forms, filtered through a lens of decorative art. During this period, we see the rise of the Rococo style, which emphasized asymmetry and ornamental design, often drawing inspiration from the natural world. The image also reflects the values of the institutions of art. Academies valued design for its own sake, and this image, in its way, represents a didactic tool. It was a way to train young artists in the proper ways of representing natural forms in art and design. To understand this print, we can research pattern books, design theory, and the history of the French Royal Academy. In doing so, we see how the meaning of art is profoundly affected by social and institutional histories.