Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Framel, Plate 4 from an Untitled Series with Rocailles Ornaments for Window, Pier Glass and Door Frames 1745 - 1755

Editor: Here we have Jeremias Wachsmuth’s "Suggestion for the Decoration of Lower Right and Top Right of a Frame," made sometime between 1745 and 1755. It's a Rococo engraving – a series of frame designs. It feels quite delicate, almost like looking at spun sugar. What do you see in this piece? Curator: Delicate is a lovely way to put it! It reminds me of those extravagant pastries they’d serve at Versailles. Look at the curves, the flourishes – pure Rococo! Can you imagine these ornaments in a gilded room? It’s less about functionality and more about pure visual delight. Do you get a sense of that playfulness? Editor: Absolutely, it's pure ornamentation. But I also find it a little… excessive? All those curves and frills! Curator: Excessive is the point! Think of it as visual rebellion against the stricter, more formal Baroque period. Rococo wanted to have fun, to be light and airy, almost frivolous. These designs weren't just decorations; they were statements. Imagine the wealth needed to commission such detailed work. It makes you wonder about the patrons, doesn’t it? Editor: It does! I guess I hadn't considered the social aspect of something so… decorative. Curator: Exactly! And that’s the beauty of looking closely, isn’t it? What starts as a frilly frame design opens up into a whole world of history and social context. Editor: I’ll definitely look at Rococo art differently now. It’s more than just pretty swirls!