Fries met twee kinderen 1651

René Lochon made this etching of a frieze with two children sometime between 1636 and 1675. We see a symmetrical composition, with putti lounging amid acanthus leaves and classical motifs. The print was made in France. The rigid symmetry and decorative naturalism are typical of the Baroque style, which was favored by Louis XIV. The Sun King used art and architecture to project an image of absolute power. A print like this could have been used to promote a unified vision of French culture, and to define aesthetic standards that served the interests of the court. The print is also associated with the institution of the Gobelins Manufactory which served to create furniture and other artworks for the king. By studying prints like this, alongside documents from the period, we can develop a deeper understanding of the relationship between art, power, and society in 17th-century France.