Twee commodes 1745

Carl Albert von Lespilliez made this print of two commodes. A commode is a low chest of drawers, popular in France during the 18th century. These particular commodes are in the Rococo style that swept Europe at the time. Note the curvilinear forms, asymmetry, and elaborate ornamentation. The style was embraced by the French aristocracy and soon became associated with the court of Louis XV. Rococo interiors evoked a sense of leisure, pleasure, and luxury that was far removed from the everyday lives of most people. Aristocratic patronage was a critical part of the art world at the time. To fully understand the social history of art, we need to look to sources such as letters, inventories, and transactions, to better understand the artist’s position in the art world and that world's relationship to wider society. It reminds us that art is never made in a vacuum, but is rooted in specific social and institutional contexts.