Vignet met een wapen en twee griffioenen 17th century

This is a woodcut vignette, created by an anonymous artist. The image is made entirely from the marks of a knife, cutting away the negative space around the griffins and the shield, leaving these elements in relief, able to hold ink. This process is all about control. The artist would have used various gauges to achieve different marks – tiny hatching for shading, heavier lines for the contour. The texture of the wood itself lends a particular character to the print. You can feel the labor involved in its production – the patient, skilled hand of the craftsman. In its time, this kind of print work would have been seen as a disposable, functional object rather than fine art. Yet, its reliance on the hand, on an intimate relationship with materials, gives it a special power. As you look, remember to appreciate the making. It invites us to think about the many forms of creativity that exist in our world.