Nouvelle Collection d'Arabesques 1790

Etienne de Lavallée-Poussin created this print, "Nouvelle Collection d'Arabesques," during the late 18th century, a period defined by the burgeoning fascination with classical antiquity and the decorative arts. This work exemplifies the era’s prevailing aesthetics, where classical motifs were reinterpreted through a contemporary lens. The arabesque style, characterized by its ornate and intertwining patterns, often incorporated elements of the exotic and the mythological. Note how gender, class and race are performed through the artist's choices in representing the human figure. Do you notice the classical female nude? Consider how the artist's position, and the position of the patron, affected the representation of the female body. Lavallée-Poussin's work reflects a society grappling with identity, power, and representation. It invites us to consider the complex interplay between artistic expression, social values, and the historical forces that shape them.