Ornament 

This Ornament was made by Karl Ballenberger in the 19th century using graphite on paper. It's a sketch, a preliminary study for a design, rather than a finished artwork in itself. The pencil lines are delicate, but confident, suggesting Ballenberger was a skilled draughtsman. The symmetrical design hints at the intended purpose of the ornament, likely for mass production. Consider how this sketch might translate into textiles, wallpaper, or even cast ironwork. The nature of the materials and processes reflect a tension between artistic creation and industrial production. The handmade sketch stands apart from the machine-made object that would be made from it. We can see this as a dialogue between the hand and the machine, where craft informs industry, and where the artistry of the individual is subsumed into the larger systems of labor and consumption. By looking at this drawing, we can reflect on how such designs mediate between creative and industrial worlds.