Bladranken die links eindigen in een mascaron 1500 - 1600

This ornament print shows a symmetrical pattern of leafy tendrils, with putti cavorting among them. It was made at an unknown date by an anonymous artist, using the intaglio technique. The intaglio process involves incising an image into a metal plate, usually copper, using tools or acid. Ink is then forced into these grooves, the surface wiped clean, and the image transferred to paper under high pressure. The resulting print bears the mark of this process in the slightly raised lines of ink, a testament to the labor involved. Ornament prints like this one served as a visual vocabulary for artisans and designers. They were crucial to the standardization of styles and patterns in the early modern era. This standardization, in turn, was essential to the expansion of manufacturing. Next time you see such a print, remember that it isn't just a pretty picture; it's a record of craft knowledge, and its dissemination through print culture.