Onderboezem met keizersbuste c. 1658 - 1670

This print of a chimneypiece with a bust of Roman Emperor was made by Jean Lepautre in Paris in the mid-17th century. Lepautre was an engraver and designer, crucial for defining the Louis XIV style. His images shaped tastes and disseminated knowledge of classical forms throughout France. The chimneypiece, an ornate frame for a fireplace, embodies the cultural obsession of the time. France's monarchy cultivated a fascination with antiquity to associate itself with the grandeur of the Roman Empire. The bust of an emperor, framed with garlands and cherubs, isn’t just decoration, but a tool of statecraft. Through prints like this, the visual language of power was consumed and reproduced in elite households, reinforcing social hierarchies. Historians use prints and engravings to research how decorative styles reflected political and social ambitions in 17th century France. The meaning of this artwork is found in its original social and institutional context.