Herinnering en overvloed 1768 - 1771

This etching, "Herinnering en overvloed" (Memory and Abundance) by Jean Charles Delafosse (1734-1789), was created in 1768-1771. It showcases ornate decorative motifs with a focus on classical imagery, which was a hallmark of the Rococo era. The piece is composed of three distinct sections: a top section featuring a framed scene of a burning building, a bottom-left section illustrating a vase with a warrior goddess within its frame, and a bottom-right section depicting a more ornate and stylized vase. The work's title suggests a duality: the memory of lost things (symbolized by the burning structure) juxtaposed against the abundance of life (represented by the ornate vases and the warrior goddess). This etching, currently at the Rijksmuseum, is a fine example of French Rococo decorative art, a style that valued elegance, asymmetry, and the playful incorporation of natural elements.