Cartouche 1712

Editor: Right, next up, we're looking at "Cartouche", an engraving from 1712 by Jean Duvivier, held at the Rijksmuseum. The detail is incredible! All those flourishes, the almost organic shapes... I'm struck by the ornate style, how would you approach unpacking this work? Curator: Oh, this is delicious! Imagine stepping back to a time of powdered wigs and grand pronouncements. These cartouches – essentially elaborate picture frames – were *everywhere*. Think of them as the 18th-century equivalent of... well, a really, REALLY fancy Instagram border. This one's a riot of Baroque exuberance. See how the lines twist and curl, mimicking nature but amplifying it? It's all about controlled chaos, wouldn’t you agree? A paradox, perhaps? Editor: Controlled chaos, that's a perfect way to put it! I hadn’t considered it as a border though, that is super interesting. What was their main purpose, aside from decoration? Curator: Well, usually, they’d frame coats of arms, dedications, maybe even a scene from mythology, turning something already important into an event. Like announcing the arrival of a visiting dignitary with a fanfare of trumpets and a hail of confetti. Here, though, the center is empty. Duvivier’s leaving us to fill in the blank. Who, what story, *what grandeur* deserves such an elaborate stage? A challenge for our imagination, don't you think? What would *you* place at its center? Editor: Hmmm… a mirror, perhaps, to reflect the viewer and make them the subject? So much to think about! Curator: Ah, excellent. Next time you see ornament think – controlled expression and playful subversion! Editor: Great food for thought - literally framed!