Vaas met bloemen en ranken 1573 - 1610

This vase of flowers and foliage was etched by Christoph Jamnitzer in late 16th- or early 17th-century Germany. The image presents a symmetrical arrangement of stylized flowers and foliage overflowing from an ornate vase. This print offers us a window into the culture of the Northern Renaissance and the way that art helped to reflect wealth and status. We can see that images of floral arrangements were extremely popular in the decorative arts and were closely associated with luxury and sophistication. During this period, the aristocracy were great consumers of luxury goods and were also great patrons of the arts, so this print could be used by artisans as inspiration for vases and the decoration of interior spaces. As historians, we look at this print and consider how it both reflects and shapes the social world of its time, and by doing so we can uncover rich insights into the culture of the past.