Onderboezem met keizersbuste c. 1665 - 1670

Curator: Here at the Rijksmuseum, we have "Onderboezem met keizersbuste," a print created by Jean Lepautre around 1665 to 1670. It showcases a rather ornate, classical interior architectural element. Editor: It strikes me immediately as intensely hierarchical in its design, literally placing an imperial bust above other decorative motifs. Is there an inscription on the lower part? Curator: Yes, indeed! It’s an engraving and shows the inscription "A Paris cher, N. Langlois, Rue St Jacques à la Victoire." Lepautre was clearly connected to the decorative arts scene in Paris, engaging directly in the practices and discourses of seventeenth-century France. Editor: The layering is quite impressive. Note the various materials represented solely through engraving – the veining in what seems to be marble, the plushness of the garlands, and even the fabric-like drapery. I wonder what sort of artisan would have been able to afford that level of detailed ornamentation? Curator: The image itself signifies more than interior architecture: consider what kinds of gendered performances this space demanded or denied. How does the power suggested by this classic architecture translate to social practice? Editor: That's a fascinating point. By examining the historical context and reception of this kind of decorative design, perhaps we can reveal social power dynamics. The precision of Lepautre’s work itself required specific skills— years as an engraver involved intensive apprenticeships within guilds which have structured labor at that time. Curator: We can ask: how does access shape not only production but also representation of artistic form? Editor: Ultimately, "Onderboezem met keizersbuste" presents both an aesthetic encounter and an opportunity to examine the historical and material practices from which art comes forth.