Cartouche met een mascaron 1584

This is a 16th century engraving, "Cartouche met een mascaron", by an anonymous artist. It is a detailed example of a cartouche, a decorative element often used in architecture, which in this case is a framing device for an inscription. The central "mascaron", or grotesque mask, features a grimacing face with large ears, adding a playful element to the otherwise symmetrical design. These decorative elements were common in 16th-century design, and this engraving serves as a testament to the skill of anonymous artisans of the period.