Titelblad: Divers Desseins de cheminées à la royale c. 1655 - 1657

This print, "Divers Desseins de cheminées à la royale," was made by Antoine Pierretz using engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, where the design is cut into a metal plate, often copper, using a tool called a burin. The incised lines hold ink, and the image is transferred to paper under high pressure. This technique allowed for fine details, visible in the elaborate ornamentation and the shading that defines the figures, cherubs and architectural elements. The clean, precise lines of the engraving lend a sense of formality, befitting the royal subject matter. Consider the labor involved in creating such detail by hand, a painstaking process demanding considerable skill. The print wasn't conceived as 'art' with a capital A, but rather as a template to be copied by artisans in wood, stone, and plaster. It's a reminder that even seemingly minor decorative elements reflect broader social hierarchies and that craft and design are integral to understanding visual culture.