Verschillende posities van de Aarde op de ecliptica 1706

Sébastien Leclerc I created this print, Verschillende posities van de Aarde op de ecliptica, sometime in the 17th or early 18th century using etching. Leclerc, as a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture, was at the heart of the French art establishment during the reign of Louis XIV, a time when art was used to glorify the monarchy and reinforce social hierarchies. Prints like this circulated within a society deeply invested in scientific exploration. Yet, consider how access to knowledge was highly stratified. The world of science and art academies were largely the domain of privileged men. Leclerc's work participates in this dissemination of scientific knowledge, but from a distinct position of power and authority. The Age of Enlightenment was dawning. This print embodies the spirit of rational inquiry, but we should remember that this pursuit of knowledge was far from universally accessible. It provokes questions about who was included and who was excluded from the burgeoning scientific community and what impact that has had on society.