Deur met twee panelen before 1678

This is Franz Ertinger's print “Door with Two Panels”. The image offers us a glimpse into the world of 17th-century European design, a world steeped in rigid social hierarchies and the performance of power through opulence. This print encapsulates the era's aesthetic values, reflecting both the grandeur and the constraints of its time. Doors like this weren't just passageways, they were statements. The intricate carvings, the cherubic figures, and the overall symmetry speak to a culture obsessed with status. Who passes through this door, and into what kind of space? This image evokes questions about access, privilege, and the theatrical nature of aristocratic life. It’s a stage set in print, inviting us to consider the roles we play and the doors we long to open.