Boeket van ranken met bloemen en bladeren. c. 1631 - 1726

This anonymous engraving depicts a profusion of flowers and foliage. Given its location in the Rijksmuseum, and the stylistic conventions of the print, it likely hails from the Netherlands. Images such as this were circulated as models for artisans in various trades. Printed pattern books helped to disseminate new styles of ornamentation. In a burgeoning capitalist economy such as that of the Netherlands, consumer demand created a need for efficient distribution of the latest fashions. This print, while seemingly apolitical, speaks to the increasingly specialized division of labor and the standardization of aesthetic styles that were hallmarks of early modern Europe. Examining this artwork in relation to the history of printmaking and of Dutch trade helps us to better understand the social conditions that shaped artistic production at this time.