Goldsmith's Bouquet, from "Newes Lauberbuechlein" 1628 - 1666

Peter Aubry II created this engraving, Goldsmith's Bouquet, as part of a series of model designs for artisans. Made in Germany, sometime in the mid-17th century, the print reflects the rising economic power of the merchant classes and the guild system that controlled production and trade in the region. Notice how the image is both decorative and functional; the bouquet frames a central space, which could be adapted for monograms or coats of arms, according to the patron's wishes. Images like this one reveal the close relationship between art and commerce, the status of the goldsmith as both artist and entrepreneur. Social historians might look at account books, guild records, and other visual sources like paintings of workshops, to understand the culture that produced this bouquet. The meaning of art is always contingent on its historical context.