Venus met putti op zee 1692 - 1739

Louis Desplaces made this print of Venus attended by putti in the early 18th century. The print embodies the visual culture of its time, reflecting the power and status of the French court and its artistic institutions. The imagery is drawn from classical mythology, a common source of inspiration for artists of that era, but it's also commenting on the social structures of its own time. The celebration of beauty, pleasure, and abundance aligns with the values of the French aristocracy, for whom art was both a source of delight and a demonstration of power. The putti or cherubs are a visual code of innocence and playfulness, but they also convey a sense of privilege and leisure, and the institutional hierarchies of French society. To fully understand this print, we can consult primary sources such as period journals, exhibition catalogs, and theoretical writings on art. These materials offer insights into the values, beliefs, and power structures that shaped its creation and reception.