Console 1699 - 1726

This is an engraving of a console, a decorative bracket often used to support shelves or other architectural elements. Created by an anonymous artist, the print exemplifies the elaborate ornamentation popular in European design. Pieces like this circulated widely as models for artisans. Consider how the ornamental console—with its swirls and foliage—served as a display of wealth, reflecting the social hierarchies of the time. Who had access to these designs, and who was excluded? This print embodies the complex relationship between art, access, and social status. Reflect on the labor embedded within its details. Who were the craftspeople who translated these designs into three-dimensional form? This print makes visible the circulation of images, while prompting us to consider the lives and labor of those who brought such designs to life.