Titelblad: Neu ersonnene Gold=Schmieds Grillen c. 1698 - 1726

This print, *Titelblad: Neu ersonnene Gold=Schmieds Grillen,* was created by Wolfgang Hieronimus von Bömmel using etching. The composition strikes you immediately with its symmetrical arrangement, almost a mirror image, divided into distinct horizontal layers. At the top, a vase brimming with stylized floral and foliate forms commands attention with its intricate details. The vase morphs into a grotesque mask, typical of the ornamental style known as grotesque. The middle ground showcases a goldsmith's workbench laden with precision instruments: pliers, hammers and files. At the base is a basin bearing the print's title inscribed in ornate lettering. The print deftly destabilizes the boundary between organic and inorganic, the natural and the artificial. The goldsmith's implements are set against the backdrop of flowing organic forms, which invites a reading beyond mere craftsmanship, suggesting an engagement with ideas of transformation, where base materials become things of beauty. The symmetrical structure reinforces the notion of equilibrium, a balance between the natural world and human artistry.