Banknote motifs: band of lathe work ornament and two monograms using the letters U.S. 1819 - 1847

Curator: This delicate engraving from the Metropolitan Museum's collection is titled "Banknote motifs: band of lathe work ornament and two monograms using the letters U.S." It's attributed to Cyrus Durand, and thought to have been made between 1819 and 1847. Editor: The almost austere grayness of this composition strikes me; it has an aged look—something classical, like what you would find etched into marble or some precious metal. There's this repetitive symmetry playing out in the latticework alongside those two elaborately rendered 'US' monograms... it feels... official. Curator: Indeed, this design points to the rising need for anti-counterfeiting measures in the burgeoning American economy. Note the lathe work ornament— this intricate geometric pattern would have been incredibly difficult to reproduce accurately by hand at that time. It represents a technological solution to a problem plaguing the early republic. Editor: What I find fascinating is the almost tactile quality rendered through mere lines. Those 'US' monograms almost leap off the paper! The texture achieved simply with hatching, creating a sense of three-dimensionality— it’s superb. Look how the shadows seem to make the crackled page come alive! Curator: The selection of Durand as the artist also signifies a deliberate choice. He wasn’t merely an artist; he was also an inventor who patented improvements to engraving machinery. This brings questions to what extent governmental trust was delegated in artists working with the national economy? Editor: I love the overall composition! Each part of this design–monograms, band, hatching, and age, contribute to this piece to tell some story about currency. Did you get all that from my observation? I am impressed... Curator: And in turn you gave me clues to analyze what forces were at play during the time period, and what drove an artist to design his subject using technology to thwart others from reproducing currency. Editor: A nice reminder of how close observation lets the seemingly simple speak volumes. Curator: Exactly. Hopefully, now our audience may interpret and decode the symbolic meaning behind the banknote too.