Nis met fontein 1733 - 1768

This is Carl Albert von Lespilliez's 'Nis met fontein', an etching which presents a detailed interior design for a dining room, now housed in the Rijksmuseum. The composition is defined by symmetry and a celebration of ornate detail. The structural arrangement is grounded by vertical panels and horizontal registers, yet it’s the profusion of curvilinear forms, floral motifs, and elaborate scrollwork which immediately captivates the eye. The etching employs a semiotic language typical of Rococo design, where the fountain becomes a signifier not merely of water, but of luxury, refinement, and the cultivated control of nature. This play of signs extends to the very structure of the room. Each element—from the pilasters to the decorative panels—contributes to an overall message of aristocratic elegance. Consider the use of line here: it's not just delineation, but a form of ornamentation itself, blurring the distinction between structure and decoration. The work invites a re-evaluation of space, where utility is superseded by aesthetic experience. This pushes against rigid functional categories and instead embraces a world of fluidity and artifice.