Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Framel, Plate 3 from an Untitled Series with Rocailles Ornaments for Window, Pier Glass and Door Frames 1745 - 1755

Editor: Okay, next up is a print called "Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Framel, Plate 3 from an Untitled Series with Rocailles Ornaments for Window, Pier Glass and Door Frames." It’s by Jeremias Wachsmuth and dates from between 1745 and 1755. The technique used was engraving. I see lots of ornate, shell-like curves... It's screaming "Baroque" at me, so extravagant. How would you interpret this, especially as a *suggestion*? Curator: A "suggestion"...Yes, that's such an intriguing way to put it, isn’t it? It’s not a blueprint, but a whisper of possibility. Look closely at the delicate lines—they dance and swirl like confectioner’s sugar. This print isn't just about decorating a frame; it’s about transforming the very experience of looking *through* it. Do you think that ornate design would call attention to what is framed, or distract? Editor: Hmm…that's a good question! Maybe both? I feel like all the intricate details are meant to draw your eye in, like little puzzles, but they could overwhelm the actual painting or view. Curator: Precisely! It's a playful tension. These "rocailles" weren’t just stylish; they represented nature tamed and stylized. Imagine commissioning such a frame: you’re not just buying wood and craftsmanship; you're purchasing a tiny piece of aristocratic power over the natural world. I see these curls as tiny acts of conquest. Or are they... Editor: Tiny acts of conquest! Wow. I love that! So it's like a statement about control, disguised as pretty swirls? That turns the image completely on its head for me! Curator: Absolutely. And isn't that what great art does? It makes you question everything. It whispers secrets that you thought you already knew. Always look beyond the obvious, Editor. You might surprise yourself! Editor: I will, thanks! This print is much more complex than I initially thought. Seeing it as a form of "conquest" gives the baroque style a whole new weight.