Geornamenteerde schouw met vaas 1726 - 1741

This print shows an ornate chimney-piece with a vase, made by an anonymous artist. The print captures the fine detail of wood carving, an intricate, skilled craft. Look closely and you'll see that the design incorporates classical motifs with floral elements. The chimney-piece itself is a substantial architectural element, suggesting a grand interior, most likely a home of someone with considerable wealth. The labor involved in creating such an elaborate design would have been considerable. Each element of the ornament likely hand-carved, demanding a high level of skill and precision. The print preserves and disseminates this design, making it accessible to a wider audience. It serves both as a record of craftmanship and a source of inspiration. Thinking about the relationship between labor, design, and consumption encourages us to expand our appreciation of objects. Appreciating them not only for their aesthetic qualities, but for the human effort embedded within them.