Blad met ranken met bladeren, bloemen en vruchten 1720 - 1750

This sheet of paper is decorated with a pattern of tendrils bearing leaves, flowers, and fruit, likely produced by Andreas Steber. The image looks like block-printed wallpaper, with a repeating design. The process involves carving a pattern into a block, applying ink or dye, and then pressing the block onto the paper surface. This can be repeated to create an all-over pattern, with each color requiring a separate block. The choice of colors and the density of the pattern give the paper a rich, tactile quality. Such techniques were essential to textile design, and have long been associated with artisanal production, but also, increasingly, with industrial production. This sheet suggests an interesting intersection of these worlds, referencing traditions of craftsmanship while anticipating the rise of mass-produced decorative goods. This artwork reminds us that the techniques and materials employed in making have significance, blurring boundaries between art, craft, and industry.