Curatorial Narrative The enigmatic “Arcade with Serpents and Fireworks” emerges from the 18th-century art world, its exact authorship shrouded in mystery. Created circa 1780, this work occupies a pivotal position within the Rococo movement’s gradual dissolution into Neoclassicism. The artist’s decision to employ printmaking techniques rather than traditional brushwork underscores the increasingly widespread recognition of print as a legitimate medium for artistic expression. By doing so, they subvert the notion of the “original” artwork, instead opting for an economy of means that belies the intricate visual dynamics at play. Upon enlargement to 49×44 inches, the arcade’s chromatic structure assumes an almost palpable presence within the space. The interplay between black, cream, pink, green, and gold hues creates a spatial rhythm that oscillates between lightness and heaviness. The palette’s atmospheric weight buoyed by the de