Trofeeën met schilden en attributen 1772 - 1779

Curator: This print, crafted between 1772 and 1779 by Etienne Claude Voysard, is titled "Trophies with shields and attributes." Editor: Well, aren't these just charmingly fussy. All delicate lines and ornate… dangly bits! It feels almost dizzying to look at first, like a hyper-detailed dream of someone who really loved Roman history and house plants. Curator: Fussiness, as you call it, is characteristic of the Rococo style. Note the emphasis on elaborate ornamentation. The image overflows with symbolism; shields, weaponry, fruit, books, and classical busts… Editor: Symbolism, you say? The shields immediately strike me. Historically, a shield protects. But here, surrounded by fruit and foliage, they seem almost… theatrical? Is it a play on power, where intellectual or creative strength offers better defense than brute force? Curator: Exactly. We see the shields laden with imagery, referencing science and perhaps maritime power. The bundles of fruits and flowers indicate prosperity, bounty... celebration, even. Note also how the items aren't just randomly placed. Each component supports the others, enhancing a unified decorative arrangement. Editor: A decorative, ideological avalanche! So much Baroque drama. I wonder, did viewers at the time see these tropes as reassuring? Like visual shorthand for core cultural values? Or were they already rolling their eyes at the excessive spectacle? Curator: I suspect a bit of both. These prints would likely be appreciated within intellectual circles familiar with classical allegories. They were certainly intended to be impressive! The Baroque era was all about power, conveyed through grandeur. Voysard’s prints offer a fascinating microcosm of the Rococo, teetering between beauty and visual overload. Editor: It's interesting to think about how, even in decorative arts, these visual echoes of past glories shaped identity. Now, the idea of assembling your 'personal brand' from carefully chosen symbols makes me want to giggle. It’s a bit like Instagram, but with more shields! Curator: (Laughing) Perhaps, yes! It certainly gives us pause to consider what objects and symbols we imbue with meaning today.