Ornamenteel wandpaneel 1817

This ornamental wall panel was made by Pietro Ruga, using pen and ink on paper. The drawing offers a detailed design for a wall, articulated into distinct zones. Each one contains meticulous patterns, ranging from geometric shapes to stylized floral motifs, with masks interspersed. The fine lines of the pen work showcase the artist’s skill and precision, and the repetition of patterns suggests a design intended for mass production. These designs would have been a template, a step in a longer process of production. The drawing embodies a transfer of aesthetic value from the hand of the artist to a mode of reproduction. By considering it closely, we can appreciate the amount of labor involved in the production process, and question divisions between ‘fine art’ and ‘craft’.