Muurpaneel met twee saters onder achthoekige lijst 1647

Michel Dorigny made this print, "Muurpaneel met twee saters onder achthoekige lijst" or "Wall panel with two satyrs under an octagonal frame," using etching in the mid-17th century. The print shows an elaborate design for a wall panel, complete with satyrs, cherubs, and decorative garlands around a central landscape scene. Made in France, this print reflects the Baroque style then favored by Louis XIV and his court. Dorigny's print provides insight into the aesthetics of interior design of the period. The incorporation of classical figures like satyrs and cherubs demonstrates the enduring influence of classical antiquity on French art and culture. Through the institutions of the court, but also the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, such aesthetics became the epitome of “good taste”. Further study of Dorigny’s print, by looking at pattern books and architectural treatises, can help us understand the cultural values, social norms, and power dynamics of 17th-century France.