Ovaal ornament met florale arabesken 1727

Pieter de Bary created this oval ornament featuring floral arabesques as an engraving. The rise of ornament in the early modern period is closely tied to the development of printmaking and its associated institutions. Ornament prints like these circulated widely among craftspeople who would incorporate these designs into larger projects. They also appealed to an expanding consumer culture interested in sophisticated and fashionable designs. De Bary worked in the Netherlands, which was a major center for printmaking in the 17th century. The social and economic structures of the time, with a thriving merchant class and extensive trade networks, facilitated the production and distribution of these prints. Art historians use a variety of resources such as trade records, guild archives, and design books to learn more about the cultural role of ornament. By studying its original context, we gain a richer understanding of the design and social dynamics of the past.