Portaal gedecoreerd met bladranken, mascarons en rolwerk 1593 - 1595

This print of a portal decorated with foliage, masks and scrollwork was made by Wendel Dietterlin around 1593 in Germany. It is an example of the artist's elaborate architectural fantasies, which were widely circulated as prints and exerted a strong influence on the development of Northern Mannerism. The image creates meaning through its density of ornament, overwhelming the viewer with a display of wealth and status. Germany, at this time, was undergoing significant social and economic change, with the rise of a wealthy merchant class and increasing urbanization. Dietterlin’s work embodies the emerging cultural values of this period. Art historians can study treatises, pattern books, and other archival sources to understand the cultural context of this print. By studying these things, we appreciate that the meaning of art is always contingent on its social and institutional context.