Fascicule II 1763

Editor: This is "Fascicule II", a 1763 etching and engraving on paper by Jean Claude Richard, Abbé de Saint-Non. The arrangement of these neoclassical figures and motifs reminds me of a page from an archaeological sketchbook. What strikes you about this print? Curator: That’s an insightful observation. For me, the "archaeological sketchbook" feel really gets at the heart of what Neoclassicism was about. Consider the late 18th century. The excavation of Pompeii and Herculaneum was underway, and suddenly, there was a renewed fascination with antiquity. What kind of a social function do you think images like this one, with their depiction of ancient scenes, might have served in that time? Editor: Maybe they helped popularize the visual vocabulary of the classical world, creating a sense of shared cultural heritage. Did they aim to do more than simply record? Curator: Absolutely. Prints like this helped to create and circulate an idealized vision of the past. The composition evokes a sense of order, reason, and civic virtue -- qualities associated with classical antiquity, and, aspirationally, with contemporary society as well. They were explicitly contrasted to what was regarded as the frivolous excess of the preceding Rococo style. Editor: I see. It’s like they were constructing a particular narrative about history. It's interesting how artistic taste and social values can become so entwined! Curator: Precisely. And this image is an active participant in shaping the tastes and values of its audience. Look closely: note the ways this imagery evokes authority of this classical past. Images like this actively influenced politics, fashion, and architecture. So much was at stake. Editor: This print, initially seemingly simple, reflects wider cultural currents that are truly complex! I will think of it as a social object, not just a beautiful engraving.