Ornament met een mascaron omgeven door bladranken 1683 - 1733

This is an ornamental design with a mascaron surrounded by foliage, made by Bernard Picart. Picart was an engraver, born in Paris, who became known for his book illustrations. The imagery in this piece is rooted in the artistic traditions of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, a time when Europe was marked by the rise of absolutist monarchies and the flourishing of the Baroque and Rococo styles. The symmetrical composition and stylized acanthus leaves reflect a desire for order. Yet, at the center, the mascaron – a grotesque face – introduces an element of the irrational. Often used in architectural decoration, mascarons served to ward off evil. Here, though, the face is framed by radiating lines, almost like a halo, which gives the figure a sense of ambiguous power. The imagery is not about individual expression, but about collective cultural anxieties and aspirations. In its ornamental function, it reminds us how art and design are intertwined.