Ornament Panels with Birds: Plate 7 1617

Curator: What a whimsical flock we have here! This is "Ornament Panels with Birds: Plate 7" created in 1617 by Adrian Muntink. He used etching on paper to capture these lively birds. It is held here at The Art Institute of Chicago. What catches your eye first? Editor: Immediately, I notice the etching technique. Look at how precisely Muntink has detailed the textures of each feather. The entire visual field is teeming with birds intertwined with ornamental botanicals in monochrome; it gives the ensemble the aesthetic character of delicate ironwork. Curator: Yes, that exquisite detail really makes them sing, doesn't it? Each bird seems to possess its own distinct personality. You almost imagine that these plates were made by Muntink in his workshop by his window overlooking a bucolic garden in the early hours of dawn. I like to think Muntink studied these avians meticulously. Editor: I agree, though I suspect this level of precision wasn’t necessarily available without the aid of optics. There’s an extraordinary tension here between observation and stylization; also, I am particularly curious about the labour process of etching, and how many such plates he could produce daily for distribution. Curator: Right, so what exactly would these images have been for, do you think? Why labor so intensely to produce such an ornately-decorated plate? Editor: Ornament prints like this, especially with popular motifs like birds and foliage, were highly sought after. Craftsmen and artisans consulted them for inspiration to decorate functional objects: ceramics, furniture, metalwork. The entire mode of production relied on the material exchange of ideas, patterns, designs... the boundaries we make today between "art" and "craft" didn't really exist back then! Curator: Fascinating to think of these elegant birds finding their way onto a humble teapot or adorning a chest in a merchant’s home. You almost feel like they'd bring the outside, inside. The mundane transforms into a marvel... Perhaps the domestic objects sing in their way, too! Editor: It truly reminds us how artistry touches everyday lives, even back then. From this plate to someone's teacup – imagine that journey! Curator: So from humble origins to a fine art museum, our little bird family's journey is far from over! Thanks for spotting this one, I feel as light as a bird for that matter.