Letters R en V 1768 - 1786

Etienne Claude Voysard created this print of the letters 'R' and 'V' in 1773. The letters are composed of winding garlands of leaves and flowers, topped with a floral crown. The wreath motif, a timeless symbol of honor, victory, and cyclical renewal, has roots stretching back to ancient Greece and Rome. In classical antiquity, wreaths of laurel or olive were bestowed upon triumphant athletes and military heroes. This motif reappears throughout the Renaissance and Baroque periods, often adorning portraits of rulers and nobles to denote their power and virtue. Here, in this delicate print, the wreath takes on a gentler, more ornamental form, yet still hints at the enduring human desire to commemorate and celebrate. The floral crown and garlands evoke a sense of idealized beauty and fleeting moments of joy, reminding us of the continuous cycles of nature, and life itself.