Cartouches c. 17th century

Curator: François Collignon's "Cartouches," residing here at the Harvard Art Museums, presents us with a rather elegant, if diminutive, etching. Editor: First impression? Dramatic, like a crest ripped from a tempestuous sea, all swirling forms and roaring lions poised to pounce! Curator: Indeed. The cartouche form itself, historically, served as an ornamental frame, often bearing inscriptions of importance. Editor: And here, the lions, those baroque flourishes… they're practically frothing with theatricality! Imagine the pronouncements this frame could hold! Curator: The inscription "Cum Privilegio Regis" at the top right suggests that this was officially sanctioned imagery, aligned with royal power and privilege. Editor: It's a captivating dance between chaos and control, isn't it? A controlled frenzy, perfectly encapsulated within these lines. Curator: It does offer a glimpse into the visual rhetoric of its time, a language of power and prestige conveyed through symbolic forms. Editor: A powerful little thing, isn’t it? Makes you think about what kind of messages we're framing today.