Frieze with Nine Birds Perched on a Vine 1550 - 1615

This Frieze with Nine Birds Perched on a Vine was made by Franz Isaac Brun around the late 16th or early 17th century using engraving on paper. The work’s linear quality is a direct result of the incised lines, which define the birds’ forms and the intricate foliage, and its monochrome character is inherent to the printmaking process. To create this print, Brun would have used a tool called a burin to cut lines into a metal plate, likely copper, with the depth and width of each groove determining the darkness of the printed line. The plate would then be inked, wiped clean, and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. This particular print is quite small, suggesting it may have been intended as a decorative element for a larger project, perhaps a border for a book or textile. The precision and detail achieved through engraving reflect a highly skilled tradition, and the frieze format itself draws on classical design principles. By understanding the materials and processes behind this print, we can appreciate the labor and skill involved in its creation, and connect it to broader histories of design, craft, and artistic production.