Fontein naar links gekeerd c. 1657 - 1661

Jean Lepautre created this print of a fountain in the 17th century. Etching, the printmaking process used to create this image, involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, protective layer. The artist then scratches an image into the wax, exposing the metal. Dipping the plate in acid eats away the exposed lines, leaving an impression. Lepautre was known for his skill at rendering ornament, and here that ability is on full display. A complex scene unfolds, centered on a monumental fountain whose tiers are supported by muscular figures. Serpents writhe at the top of the fountain, and mythological creatures and figures surround the basin. The labor that must have been required to build such a fountain would have been immense, a testament to the patron’s wealth. The print itself is a luxury object, intended for collectors who prized the skilled handwork required to produce such intricate images. Looking at the image, we can appreciate the many processes and materials that resulted in its creation, and the context of labor and wealth that it embodies.