Design for a Cartouche, Plate 4 from 'Neü inventierte sehr dienstiche Schilde oder Cartouches' 1745 - 1755

This is Plate 4 from 'Neü inventierte sehr dienstiche Schilde oder Cartouches', made by Jeremias Wachsmuth. Wachsmuth lived in an era where class dictated access to resources and artistic training. His detailed engraving offers us a glimpse into the aesthetic values of the 18th century, and the ways that ornament was used to signify status. The cartouche, with its symmetrical design and elaborate embellishments, speaks to the period's emphasis on decoration. The empty space in the center invites the insertion of a coat of arms or a personal emblem. However, we may also think about the cultural and political meanings embedded in the creation and circulation of these designs. The design of cartouches reflected the gendered dynamics of the time, as it reinforced a hierarchy in which aristocratic men asserted their status through heraldry and display. This print complicates questions of identity and representation in early modern Europe.