Kaarsendrager 1650 - 1664

Jean Lepautre created this print, "Kaarsendrager," a design for a candlestick, during the 17th century, a time when art and design were deeply intertwined with social status and the decorative arts. The print presents a vision of idealized femininity through the central figure of a woman, who is literally holding up a candelabra. Positioned in what appears to be a grand garden, the woman is framed by allegorical figures, alluding to the expectation that women uphold beauty and virtue. Lepautre was known for his ornamental designs, which catered to the aristocratic tastes of the era, and it’s hard not to consider how class and gender were deeply embedded within the creation of luxury items. The print not only reflects the aesthetic values of the French court, but also serves as a window into the performance of gender, suggesting the burdens and expectations placed on women in that society. It encapsulates the tension between objectification and idealization, inviting us to reflect on the historical roots of these complex representations.