Drie fragmenten van lijsten met profiel c. 1655 - 1657

Jean Lepautre created this print, "Drie fragmenten van lijsten met profiel," in Paris, during the 17th century. Lepautre was a designer and engraver whose work catered to the decorative tastes of the French court and aristocracy, a period defined by King Louis XIV's absolutist reign. Consider how the print reflects the era's ideals of power, luxury, and classical grandeur. The image presents ornamental designs for friezes, filled with allegorical figures, floral ornamentation, and military motifs. Are these designs symbols of masculinity and strength? How do they celebrate imperial power? The print speaks to the intersection of art, power, and social identity during the Baroque era. Lepautre's designs offered a visual language through which the elite could construct and communicate their status, shaping the cultural landscape of their time, and establishing enduring representations of authority and taste.