Twee kroonlijsten 1784 - 1785

This print of two crown moldings was made by Augustin Foin in the eighteenth century. It depicts possible designs for the edges of furniture or other decorative purposes. The printmaking process is crucial to the appearance of this piece. As an engraving, the design would first have been incised into a metal plate. The plate is then inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the recessed lines. Paper is then pressed against the plate, transferring the image. You can see the crisp lines and fine details achieved through this technique. But why make a print of these designs at all? The answer has to do with the rise of industrial production in the eighteenth century. Prints like this allowed for the mass dissemination of design ideas, democratizing aesthetics, and creating a common visual language that fueled consumer culture. This was not just about art, but about the look of everyday life.