Fries met bladranken en masker c. 1680 - 1690

This anonymous print titled ‘Fries met bladranken en masker’ shows a frieze with leaf tendrils and a mask, created with etching. The artwork is an example of ornament prints, which served as models for artisans and craftsmen. The imagery is in the grotesque style which was popular then. It blends classical motifs with fantastical elements, often incorporating masks, foliage, and hybrid creatures. The style was a celebration of abundance, and revels in the beauty of excess, yet was used to decorate buildings, and furniture and other objects of domestic life for the wealthy. We might consider how this particular print, designed to adorn and beautify, participates in a complex social dynamic, reinforcing class distinctions through aesthetics. It reflects the intertwined nature of art, labor, and social hierarchy.