Ornament with Grotesque 1616

This engraving entitled "Ornament with Grotesque" was produced by Master CR, a German artist, sometime between 1536 and 1676. It shows a combination of natural forms and allegorical figures, a style known as grotesque, that was very popular in 16th century Europe. At that time, the ruling classes across Europe were consolidating their power by creating a magnificent visual culture for themselves that drew heavily on classical imagery. The elite classes looked to these ornamental prints to decorate their homes, clothing and weapons. The image is composed of foliage, monkeys, trophies of arms, and at its center, a female warrior on horseback. In addition to courtly life, these elements speak to the religious and military conflicts that dominated this period. The grotesque style takes delight in breaking down boundaries between different spheres of life and it offered a world of freedom and play within increasingly formalized social structures. Art historians have shown that these prints circulated widely and were copied and adapted across Europe. Such research helps us understand the place of images within specific institutional and social contexts.