Interieur met figuren rond een tafel c. 1773 - 1788

Pierre François Basan created this print, "Interior with figures around a table," in eighteenth-century France. Basan's image is of a Dutch interior and depicts a "Hollandse" collation or light meal. The composition, reminiscent of genre paintings popular in the Netherlands, reflects the growing interest in everyday life and customs during the Enlightenment. But, it also exposes the role of institutions in shaping artistic taste. The Rijksmuseum, where this print is housed, plays a vital role in categorizing and preserving cultural artifacts. Prints such as this were popular among collectors and museums, contributing to the circulation of images and ideas across Europe. The print's creation in France, depicting Dutch customs, highlights the cultural exchange and the fascination with "foreign" cultures. Investigating auction catalogs, period journals, and museum records can shed light on the consumption and interpretation of such images during that era.