Langwerpige cartouche met drie schaalstokken 1584

This rectangular cartouche with three scales was probably made by an anonymous artist, using the reductive printmaking process of engraving. The fine lines of the print give a sense of precision which is perfectly aligned with the design's function as a scale or measuring tool. Look at the detail of the ornamentation, those stylized birds and scrolls. Each line would have been carefully incised into a copper plate, which was then inked and printed onto paper. The act of engraving, and the act of measurement, both rely on patience and control. This print would have been part of a larger network of production and consumption. The copper had to be mined, processed, and prepared. The paper had to be made. The print had to be distributed and sold. Even a small object like this can open up a window onto the material world of its time. By considering the full scope of the production process, we see the significance of this work beyond its aesthetic value.