Paneel met het element vuur 1712

This panel representing the element of fire was created by Daniël Marot, a French-born designer working in the Netherlands around the turn of the 18th century. Marot's highly ornamented prints were widely circulated across Europe and had a great influence on interior design during the late baroque and early rococo periods. This engraving offers us a glimpse into the cultural world of European courts, where classicism and religion were used to create ideological meanings. The inclusion of smiths attending a forge alludes to the role of industry in the creation of national wealth and power. To understand Marot's work more fully, we might explore the decorative arts that flourished in Europe at this time, as well as the system of patronage that sustained artists. In the end, the meaning of art always depends on its institutional and social context.