Drie vazen met rocailles 1727 - 1775

Here we see an anonymous drawing at the Rijksmuseum of three vases with ‘rocailles’, or rock-like ornamentation, executed in an unknown medium. The dominant visual experience is one of elaborate, curvilinear forms contrasted against a relatively plain background. Each vase is depicted with intricate, asymmetrical designs characteristic of the Rococo style, evoking a sense of ornamental complexity. These visual elements reflect broader artistic concerns with elaborate decoration that challenge classical notions of balance and symmetry. Rococo, as a cultural and aesthetic movement, sought to destabilize the established norms of the preceding Baroque era. The vases, with their flowing lines, organic shapes, and ornamental flourishes, act as visual signs which are indicative of this shift. The emphasis on artifice and decoration over function can be seen as a cultural code that reflects the values of the aristocracy, where appearance and display were prioritized. This drawing, therefore, exists not just as a representation of objects but as part of a larger cultural and philosophical discourse that questioned and redefined prevailing aesthetic values.