Le Camp de la Douleur
Classification
Bound print
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Purchased for the Museum by the Advisory Council
Accession Number
1921-6-201-122
About this artwork
Research in Progress
Art Historical Context
**Le Camp de la Douleur** (The Camp of Pain), created by Jean Berain the elder in 1711, offers a glimpse into the opulent world of late Baroque France. Berain (1640–1711), a master designer and engraver at the court of Louis XIV, was renowned for his intricate ornamental motifs—swirling arabesques, theatrical grotesques, and fantastical scenes that adorned everything from opera sets to royal tapestries. As designer to the Paris Opéra, his work bridged decorative arts and performance, influencing the emerging Rococo style with its playful elegance and dramatic flair. This piece, dated to the ye...