Ornament met vrouwgezicht en schelp 1720

Curator: This engraving, dated 1720, is called "Ornament met vrouwgezicht en schelp" or "Ornament with a woman's face and shell," created by Bernard Picart. It’s currently held here at the Rijksmuseum. Editor: The first word that jumps to mind is "whimsical." The flourishes and curves have this breezy, almost silly lightness. It's balanced, sure, but also like it’s just sprung from the page of a fairytale. Curator: Picart was known for his precise linework and detailed depictions of historical and religious subjects, so these ornamental prints represent a commercial market for design during the Baroque. They showcase a lighter side to his artistic output, and reveal the diverse patronage system. Editor: Commercial is right. Those curls and shell motif make me think of the architectural excesses from that time period, everything felt like it was bursting with decoration. What's the story with that lady face? Curator: Allegorical figures were standard in Baroque design. These images connected form and abstract ideas of luxury. Here, we see how prints contributed to shaping and disseminating specific aesthetics and, in turn, social values. Editor: Shaping sounds accurate because looking at that lady's very controlled expression and perfectly coiffed hair; everything has been strategically, rigidly sculpted. Still, there is something so comforting and joyful about ornamentation done with skill. It speaks to the sheer pleasure of making something beautiful. It is so pleasant to let it sink in. Curator: The distribution of such ornamental prints through printmaking facilitated the development of a visual language across different art forms and regions. Prints functioned as key instruments for visual communication, solidifying stylistic movements, as well as individual artistic approaches. Editor: Okay, my head is happily swimming in swirls now. The fact that so much was being dictated by aesthetics like this and influencing taste feels incredibly relevant to the moment we're living in, today. Curator: Absolutely, it serves as an enduring lesson. Ornamentation is never just… ornamentation. Editor: No, never is. Thanks for peeling back another layer for me.