Cartouche met proostende figuren 1658 - 1719

Curator: Ah, another gem from the Rijksmuseum collection! This print, titled "Cartouche met proostende figuren"—"Cartouche with Toasting Figures"—is attributed to Nicolas Guérard and dates sometime between 1658 and 1719. Editor: You know, it strikes me as something utterly fantastical, almost like a fever dream sketched in ink. It’s light, frothy, a bit faded – whispers of celebrations from another era. What’s this decorative element actually meant for? Curator: Well, cartouches like this, particularly popular during the Baroque era, served as decorative frames, often around coats of arms, inscriptions, or… whatever one fancied! Here, Guérard uses figuration in a lively pen-and-ink sketch, somewhere between personal sketchbook and decorative art. Editor: Decorative escapism, maybe? Look at these characters, all draped robes and overflowing with wine. And those little cherubs! It's almost overwhelmingly ornate, yet playful with it. One could spend an hour tracing these winding vines. Curator: Baroque loved embellishment, and this piece certainly revels in it. Note the allegorical touches, too; I believe the toasting figures symbolize prosperity and good fortune, ideas that nobility would wish to associate themselves with! The engraving gives it a somewhat ephemeral quality, don’t you think? Suggesting even great celebrations will pass. Editor: Yes, but that's the wonderful thing about sketches, isn't it? They capture a fleeting feeling, a glimpse into the artist's imagination, even better than a grand history painting sometimes. Even this aged paper breathes that impermanence! I almost feel invited to draw in the empty cartouche, create my own party scene. Curator: That's the power of pieces like this—they’re accessible entry points to another time and mentality, and it also humanizes an age better known for royalty than humanity! Editor: A delightful snapshot into the festive spirit of centuries past! It is charming, almost fragile really. And, what’s more… perhaps this scene holds a bit of enduring advice: when life gives you grapes, make wine and toast to prosperity!