Personificatie van de lente 1733 - 1755

This print of the Personification of Spring was made by A.J. Defehrt in eighteenth-century France. Here, Spring is represented as a woman, adorned with flowers, leaning on a plinth. She is an allegory, an image that symbolizes something abstract. In the context of the Enlightenment, it's interesting to think about the purpose of allegory. This was a period when many people were beginning to value scientific observation over traditional beliefs. Yet, allegory remained a popular tool for communicating ideas. What can it tell us about the relationship between knowledge and power? In whose interest was it to promote a particular set of values, by representing them in the form of a beautiful woman? And how might this be connected to the institutions of art – such as the Royal Academy – and their role in shaping taste and transmitting social norms? These are the questions that a historian of art might ask. By consulting archives, libraries, and other research resources, we can develop a deeper understanding of the ways in which art has been used to shape our understanding of the world.