Twee raamkozijnen 1708 - 1711

Here we see two window frames meticulously etched by Georg Conrad Bodenehr in the late 17th or early 18th century. The stark lines, rendered through the process of engraving, capture the essence of architectural design of the time. Consider the cultural significance of the window. It is a threshold between public and private, its design and ornamentation reflecting the aspirations and status of the inhabitant within. Bodenehr's engraving, far from being a mere technical exercise, is steeped in the social and economic realities of its time. Notice the degree of labor and skill invested in the work, reflective of specialized artisanal traditions; the engraver’s hand shaping lines with burins, the woodworker’s hand shaping timber. The window frames here are not just functional elements, they are signifiers of wealth and taste. This print challenges us to rethink the relationship between craft, design, and the larger socio-economic structures of the era.