Horizontal Panel Design with Two Male Figures Playing Horns Interspersed between Acanthus Rinceaux 1600 - 1650

This is a design for a horizontal panel, rendered on paper with pen and ink by an anonymous artist. The drawing features two male figures amidst scrolling acanthus leaves. What makes this drawing so interesting is the artist's chosen medium: pen and ink. These aren't traditional 'fine art' materials like oil paint or marble. They are the materials of everyday life. The artist coaxes the ink to render a design intended for transfer to another medium, like stone carving or plasterwork. The detailed cross-hatching builds up the forms, giving them volume and depth. Think about the labor involved. Each line carefully drawn, each curve meticulously rendered. The artist’s hand and mind were deeply engaged in the process, yet, the finished drawing becomes a means to an end. It emphasizes the vital role of drawing in the design process, and highlights the skill and labor involved in the production of decorative arts. It challenges us to consider the value we place on different forms of making.