Vaas in cartouche c. 1650 - 1664

This print of a vase in a cartouche was made by Jean Lepautre, a French designer and engraver, sometime in the 17th century. It's an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate with acid, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you'll see the plate itself has been worked with an incredible level of detail. The vase is decorated with foliage, cherubs, and ram’s heads, all set within an elaborate architectural frame populated with yet more figures. Lepautre was a specialist in these kinds of ornamental prints, which were used by craftsmen as sources for their own work. It's important to remember that this was not simply a work of art, but a template for the production of other objects. The image highlights the skilled labor involved in both the design and the execution of luxury goods during this period, and invites us to consider the relationship between artistic invention and practical making. By understanding the labor and context behind this print, we can appreciate how it transcends the boundaries between fine art and craft.