Cartouche met kroon en slang 1727 - 1775

Emanuel Eichel created this cartouche with crown and snake, in ink, at an unknown date. The ornamental design is immediately striking for its baroque density, an almost overwhelming layering of motifs that vie for our attention. Note how Eichel uses hatching and fine linework to build up tonal contrasts and create a sense of three-dimensionality, so that the cartouche almost seems to lift off the page. This complex composition draws upon the period's fascination with natural forms. Here, elements like the crown and serpent mix with foliage and flourishes, typical of the decorative arts of the time. Yet, this combination also subtly destabilizes any fixed interpretation. Consider how this artwork, through its intricate form, reflects broader cultural dialogues about artifice and nature, order and chaos. This cartouche invites a deeper engagement with the visual languages through which we construct meaning and experience the world.