Bloemen in kan en mand 1778

Etienne Claude Voysard made this print of flowers in a jug and basket in the late 18th century. These arrangements would likely have been source material for artisans working in one of France’s luxury trades, for example, the silk industry in Lyon. The print demonstrates the period’s preoccupation with natural history, but this was not simply a disinterested science. Botanical drawing provided the raw material from which artists and designers would produce luxury goods for wealthy consumers. Manuals of ornamental design circulated widely, and artists would have relied on them to create novel patterns and compositions. By studying the visual culture of the past, art historians attempt to understand how images and objects acquire meaning. We can consult archives and libraries to learn about the institutions that shape artistic production, as well as the political and social forces that influence the reception of art.