Reliëf met bladranken en bladmuziek, gebeeldhouwd door Jean Herman before 1880

This relief with foliage and sheet music was sculpted by Jean Herman, after an original design by Charles Claesen. What we have here is a photograph of a sculpted relief, likely intended for architectural decoration. The image offers us a window into the world of 19th-century decorative arts, and the institutions that supported them. Notice the swirling, organic forms, the musical notation, and the overall sense of playful ornamentation. These visual cues align with the Rococo revival style, a popular movement in Europe during this period. This artistic choice reflected a longing for the elegance and opulence of the pre-revolutionary era, but also a desire to adapt these forms to the industrial age. We might consider what this nostalgia for the past meant in a rapidly changing society. Was it a form of escapism, or a way to negotiate tradition and modernity? To understand this image better, we might investigate the role of design schools, museums, and trade journals in shaping artistic taste and promoting certain styles. Understanding the social and institutional context is crucial to unlocking its full meaning.