Fontein met naiade c. 1740

Jean Baptiste Marie Pierre created this print, "Fontein met naiade," sometime in the 18th century using etching. During this period, French art was increasingly tied to the aristocracy. The image presents us with an idealized and sensual vision of nature, as typified in Rococo art. The print depicts a nymph seated by a fountain with a cupid-like figure nestled in her lap. We see classical allusions in the architectural fragments and the nymph herself, these recall the mythological stories that were popular among the elite. Water flows around the naiade and tumbles into a chaotic collection of water-creatures. Pierre’s piece reflects the values of the court, with its emphasis on pleasure, beauty, and the natural world presented as a domain for aristocratic enjoyment. These themes, however, were soon to be contested. To understand this artwork fully, we can examine the social history of 18th-century France, looking at texts, fashion and other artworks of the period. In doing so, we can learn how art both reflects and shapes its world.