Vrouw met wierrookbrander 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I created this delicate etching, Vrouw met wierrookbrander, in the 17th century. It depicts a woman, draped in classical robes, holding a smoking incense burner. Leclerc was a designer and engraver, and his work often reflects the courtly tastes of Louis XIV’s France. The figure's classical garb evokes a sense of timelessness. Yet, incense burners were very much a part of elite life in this period, used to perfume the air and signal status. Leclerc was associated with the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, and was actively involved in shaping artistic taste. Etchings like this were collected by connoisseurs and used as models for other artists, helping to disseminate a particular vision of French culture. To understand Leclerc's work, scholars consult period inventories, design books, and the records of institutions like the Royal Academy. The history of art is not just about individual genius, but about the social forces that shape artistic production and reception.