Horizontal Panel with a Female Figure with Leaves as Legs, from Varii Generis Opera Aurifabris Necessaria 1595 - 1605

This engraved design, created by German artist Paul Birckenhultz, is a decorative panel featuring a female figure. The figure's legs are transformed into a stylized, floral motif, demonstrating the use of the female form as ornamentation in the late 16th century. The intricate design, featuring interwoven foliage and blooms, showcases the intricate style of Mannerism. This print is a key example of the decorative arts of the period and is part of a series of designs meant to be used for various goldsmith's works.