Jeanne Deny, etcher

Two asymmetrical structures appear to sprout out of the ground, defying gravity with their impossible balance. Theis work isvpart of a series of French designs informed by inaccurate and distorted views of Chinese ornament. Admired for their delicacy and inventiveness, Pillement’s compositions were frequently etched by other printmakers and were copied on fabric, ceramics, furniture, and wall paintings throughout Europe, spreading the popularity of decorative schemes “in the Chinese style.” The taste for chinoiserie—this exoticized depiction of pseudo-Chinese or Asian-inspired motifs—reached a peak in France in the 1700s, fueled by curiosity sparked by European trade in Asia and a growing availability of Chinese porcelain and textiles made for European markets.