Ornament with Grotesque 1616

Master CR produced this Ornament with Grotesque in 1616, using the printmaking technique of engraving. The density of fine lines would have been achieved by cutting into a metal plate, wiping ink into the recesses, and transferring the image to paper via a press. The material properties of the metal plate allowed for extremely fine and detailed work. Notice the symmetry, with monkeys, birds, and hybrid creatures emerging from foliage. This kind of ornament was intended to inspire other artisans. Engravings like this one were relatively inexpensive, and would have been acquired by goldsmiths, cabinetmakers, and other makers as source material for their own work. The graphic quality of the print, made by laborious handwork but multiplied through mechanical means, reflects the changing landscape of production at the time. This ornament testifies to the importance of prints, and the blending of craft and design, in the early modern period.