Gezicht op een haven 1660

Dominique Barrière created this print of a harbor view sometime in the mid-17th century. It gives us a lot to think about when considering the public role of art and the social conditions that shape artistic production. Notice how Barrière combines the everyday with classical architectural elements. On the one hand, we see working people, ships coming and going, and the buzz of commerce. But then he frames this activity with imposing, idealized buildings right out of antiquity. Barrière was working in France, a place that throughout the 17th century was increasingly centralized around the royal court. Royal patronage strongly influenced the production and consumption of art. Artists were increasingly encouraged to emulate classical models, and artworks like this one could serve to legitimize the power of the state by associating it with the glory of the past. To understand this image more fully, we can research the history of French art academies and royal collections. By understanding the institutions that shaped Barrière's world, we can better appreciate the social and political context of his art.