Onderboezem before 1800

Daniël Marot, a Huguenot designer who fled religious persecution in France, created this print of a chimneypiece, or "Onderboezem," as an aspirational model for domestic interiors. Marot's designs, disseminated through prints like this one, played a pivotal role in shaping the aesthetics of the Dutch Stadtholder-King William III's court. His work helped spread the Louis XIV style throughout Northern Europe. What's striking here is how interior design became a language of power. This print presents an idealized vision of domestic life, one where the home becomes a stage for displaying wealth and taste. Think about how the arrangement of vases and the elaborate ornamentation speak to a desire for control and order. It is almost like a theatrical set. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider the ways in which our living spaces reflect and reinforce societal hierarchies. What does it mean to build your home as a reflection of political power?