Design for a Cartouche and Representation of 'Smell', Plate 5 from 'Neu Inventierte auf die artigste Facon Sehr nutzliche Schild.' 1745 - 1755

This is Johann Georg Pintz’s ‘Design for a Cartouche and Representation of Smell’, a delicate engraving. The eye is immediately drawn to the elaborate, swirling cartouche that frames a scene representing the sense of smell. Note how Pintz uses a combination of fine lines and denser cross-hatching to create depth and texture. The symmetry of the cartouche, with its rhythmic, undulating forms, is juxtaposed against the asymmetry of the central scene. This contrast draws our attention to the interplay between the decorative and the representational elements. The figures within the scene are arranged to lead the eye towards the central figure engulfed in smoke, emphasizing the act of smelling or inhaling. The cartouche itself is not merely a frame, but an active participant in the image’s meaning. Its baroque exuberance and elaborate ornamentation can be read as a commentary on the sensory experience, suggesting that our perceptions are always mediated through layers of artifice and cultural codes. The work engages with the broader philosophical concerns of its time, questioning the nature of perception.