Cartouche met ruitvormig medaillon en korenaren 1685

This Cartouche with a Diamond-Shaped Medallion and Ears of Wheat was made by Charles Mavelot, likely in the early 18th century, using the technique of engraving. As a print, this work is fundamentally about reproduction – about making multiples. Engraving is an indirect process, requiring the artist to work on a metal plate, incising lines that will then hold ink. The character of the design is very much influenced by this method, demanding a patient, methodical approach. Notice how the lines swell and diminish to create a sense of volume and depth; this is characteristic of the engraver’s art. Prints like this had a clear social purpose. They were pattern books for other makers: jewelers, metalworkers, furniture designers. So, while Mavelot was a skilled artist in his own right, he was also providing raw material for many other skilled trades. Appreciating this print means understanding its place in a wider network of workshops, specializations, and creative reuse. It dissolves any easy distinction between design and art.