Liggende Venus 1732 - 1776

Gilles Demarteau created this print of a reclining Venus in Paris. Demarteau was engraver to the King and purveyor, seemingly an entrepreneur of printed images. The image is based on a design by Boucher. Its elegant lines present the mythological figure Venus as an object of serene contemplation, removed from earthly cares. But this image also represents the commercialization of art through the institutional structure of the print shop, which was a significant feature of Parisian life in the 1700s. The print shop was part of a burgeoning industry that brought art to a wider audience. It also fostered a certain type of taste. To understand the image’s meaning, we would need to know more about Demarteau’s business and the market for such images. We would also need to explore the critical debates of the time concerning the role of art and the relationship between commerce and culture.