Plate 12: a cartouche with an empty escutcheon at top center, a head of a lion in profile to either side, from 'Twelve cartouches' (Recueil de douze cartouches) 1640 - 1645

François Collignon created this ornamental engraving, Plate 12 from ‘Twelve cartouches’ sometime in the 17th century. During this period, cartouches—decorative frames—were used extensively in interior design, prints, and book illustrations to frame text or images. The print presents an elaborate, empty frame flanked by lion heads. The void at the center invites contemplation: what narratives are worthy of being framed? Is it a space for personal identity? The lion heads, symbols of strength and courage, suggest that whatever occupies this space should embody those traits. This cartouche reflects the baroque period's emphasis on ornamentation but also hints at the social functions of art. Then, as now, art provides a structure, a frame, through which stories are told and identities are shaped, prompting us to consider what we choose to elevate and remember.