Vaas en wierookvaten op voetstuk 1755 - 1782

Curator: What a captivating example of Rococo design! This is a print titled "Vaas en wierookvaten op voetstuk," or "Vases and incense burners on a pedestal" dating from between 1755 and 1782. The artist identified as Juste Nathan Boucher created this intriguing engraving on paper. Editor: It immediately strikes me as being rather formal. The symmetry and careful detailing give a sense of rigid elegance, like a staged tableau rather than something organic or fluid. Curator: Precisely. Let's delve into its formal aspects. Notice the stark contrast between the intricately decorated vases and incense burners with their flowing smoke, and the rigidly geometric pedestals upon which they rest. Boucher masterfully balances ornate Rococo motifs with the grounding effect of classical architecture. The work exemplifies the Rococo's penchant for elegance and detail. Editor: Do you see the engraving style, the delicate lines? How would such prints be used? Who would look at an artwork that showcases the details of, for example, pedestals? Curator: Prints like this had practical applications, I would add. Publishers such as Chéreau issued books from which craftsmen, artists, cabinetmakers, architects, and silversmiths drew inspiration and created objects based on images from these catalogues. It was how they circulated stylistic trends, in fact. Editor: And the "Nouveau Livre de Vases" title underscores this intended utility as a source book of design patterns for practical art application. Were books such as these considered fine art pieces or simply work documents? It feels they could have had more ambition or, perhaps, social commentary of sorts. Curator: In a way, they were both! While not explicitly subversive, prints played an integral part in disseminating aesthetic values to an ever-widening audience. Such "style books" informed both design creation and consumer preference. Editor: It is indeed interesting to reflect on such dual functionality. As an object of design, this print itself manifests its thesis about disseminating form and inspiring cultural taste. Thank you for explaining, I now feel as though I could almost pick up that incense.