Ornament met bladmotieven 1678 - 1743

This ornament with leaf motifs was created anonymously, with the use of metal and etching. The artist has used etching to give the work its intricate appearance. Notice the delicate and organic foliage, and the way it interacts with the lines of the design. The physical labor to create the copperplate that resulted in this print would have been immense; the design is carefully incised, and the plate dipped in acid to remove the metal to create the lines that you see in the printed image. Consider how this was one of the first modes of mechanical reproduction; prints such as these were made available to artisans to suggest design ideas for all types of luxury goods, which could then be produced on a vast scale. It’s a far cry from the traditional idea of a unique work of art, and yet the skill involved, and the beauty achieved, are undeniable. The work challenges these distinctions, emphasizing the importance of the making process, and its cultural significance.