Diverses Pieces de Serruriers 1658 - 1668

Jean Berain created this print, Diverses Pieces de Serruriers, with etching on paper. Think about how the term "etching" speaks to process. Lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, and then ink is rubbed into the furrows, and the image is transferred to paper through pressure. What results is a wealth of detail. Note the graphic quality, the ornate curls, and the contrast between light and shadow, all characteristic of this method. The image advertises the designs of Hugues Brisville, a master locksmith. Locksmithing in Berain’s time was not mere utility, it was also an opportunity for elaborate embellishment, a signifier of luxury. Consider the labor involved in producing such intricate work by hand, and how this reflects the social status of both the artisan and the patron. This print reminds us that even seemingly functional objects can be rich with artistic expression, and deeply intertwined with social and economic contexts.