Fries met bloemenmand c. 1680 - 1690

This print of a flower basket design was etched by an anonymous artist, on paper. Engraving is an indirect process involving a metal plate. The artist would have covered the plate with a waxy ground, then used a needle to scratch away the lines of this design, before bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, leaving behind an image which would then be printed onto paper. This design is a “frieze” or horizontal band. Note how the composition is symmetrical, with an elaborate basket of flowers at center, flanked by acanthus leaves, scrolls, and garlands. It’s a composition intended for serial reproduction, to embellish other objects. The print is not an end in itself, but part of a larger economy of production. It served as a guide for other makers – furniture builders or silversmiths for example – allowing them to incorporate classically-inspired ornamentation into their own work. This points to the fascinating intersection of artistry and industry that has long underpinned the decorative arts.