Ornament met Minerva en putti met wetenschappelijke instrumenten 1744

This ornament featuring Minerva, made by Jean Michel Papillon, probably involved a painstaking wood-cutting process. Notice the precision in the depiction of scientific instruments, like globes and geometric tools. Each line meticulously carved, contributing to the overall texture and form. The weight of the image comes not just from its subject matter, but also from the labor-intensive process of its creation. Papillon, an engraver, clearly understood the traditions and techniques used in the creation of relief prints such as woodcuts. Such prints were critical to disseminating knowledge, and also enabling decoration of the built environment – think of wallpaper, for instance. This ornamentation is a potent reminder of the intricate relationship between labor, learning, and the spread of knowledge in a pre-digital era. This piece challenges our traditional notions of both craft and art.