Titelblad: Ornemens à la Mode c. 1680 - 1690

This title page, ‘Ornemens à la Mode,’ was etched by an anonymous artist, inviting us into the fashionable world of ornament. Here, swirling acanthus leaves and delicate floral garlands frame the title, motifs that have danced through art history since antiquity, symbolizing growth and renewal. These very forms echo in the borders of illuminated manuscripts and the friezes of Renaissance palaces. Note how the geometric frame is filled with a delicate lace pattern. Lace itself, born in the early 16th century, becomes a potent symbol of status and sophistication. Reflect on how ornament speaks to the human desire for beauty and order. These motifs connect us to centuries past.