Cartouche met mannen- en vrouwenmasker 1579

This anonymous engraving from 1579, titled "Cartouche met mannen- en vrouwenmasker", features an elaborate cartouche with a central oval frame containing text about the "Nobilis Hanoniae Comitatus Descriptio" (Description of the Noble County of Hainaut). The cartouche is decorated with intricate scrollwork and topped with a male mask and a female mask at its base. This artwork is a fine example of the decorative and typographic styles prevalent in 16th-century Dutch art. Its detailed design and the use of masks likely served to enhance the visual impact of the printed text, making it a visually engaging and informative title page.