Cartouche met rolwerk dat onderaan uitloopt in hermen 1581 - 1635

Nicolaes de Bruyn created this cartouche, an ornamental frame, using etching techniques sometime between the late 16th and mid-17th centuries. During the Dutch Golden Age, cartouches were more than mere decoration; they were statements of power and identity. The grotesque masks, fruit garlands, and hybrid creatures in de Bruyn's design speak to the era’s fascination with opulence and the natural world, reflecting the wealth brought in by Dutch trade and exploration. However, this prosperity was built on a colonial system that exploited both people and resources across the globe. Consider how the symmetry and detail in this work contrast with the chaotic realities of overseas expansion. How might we interpret the idealized imagery of abundance when considering the impact on colonized societies? These images can be seen to reflect the tension between creation and destruction.