Plafonddecoratie met in het midden een leeg ovaal veld 1614

Cesare Domenichi created this ornamental design, "Plafonddecoratie met in het midden een leeg ovaal veld," as an engraving. The symmetry and embellishments typical of the era, with flourishes and shields, invite us to consider the cultural values it represents. What stories do these empty shields hold? Are they spaces for aspiration, reflection, or perhaps, erasure? Domenichi, positioned within a society that valued ornamentation and heraldry, offers us not a filled emblem but a void. The lack of information transforms this from mere decoration to a commentary on identity. It's tempting to imagine this blankness as an opportunity. In its original context, perhaps it reflected the status of its patron. But it is also possible to see this as a space for new narratives. What would you place within this frame? Does this piece evoke emotions related to inclusion, exclusion, or the very construction of identity? The engraving prompts questions about history, representation, and the narratives we choose to uphold or subvert.