Suite de Vases Composée dans le Goût de l'Antique... 1760

This print, *Suite de Vases Composée dans le Goût de l'Antique...*, was designed by Joseph Marie Vien and engraved by Marie Therese Reboul in Paris in 1760. The composition is dominated by an arrangement of vases depicted with a stark linearity that exemplifies Vien's neoclassical approach. Note how the precise, clean lines define the shapes of the vases, emphasizing their idealized forms. The stark contrast between the black lines and the white space creates a visual clarity. This clarity is characteristic of the neoclassical aesthetic, which prioritizes order, reason, and a return to classical forms. The print functions as a visual catalogue, presenting a range of vase designs within a formal, almost architectural framework. It is an exploration of form and a commentary on the values of its time, and how this neoclassical style sought to revive classical antiquity and to impose a sense of order and rationality on the visual arts.