Muurpaneel met man en vrouw onder achthoekige lijst 1647

This print, Muurpaneel met man en vrouw onder achthoekige lijst, was made by Michel Dorigny sometime in the 17th century. It is made of engraved lines on paper. This was a period when printmaking was becoming increasingly sophisticated, and was closely allied to the decorative arts, providing patterns for all sorts of things. The image is all about materiality and craft. The bold lines, which create areas of deep shadow, suggest how this image might appear in three dimensions. Sculptors, furniture makers, and other artisans could all take cues from Dorigny's design. Looking closely at the artwork, we can see the amount of skill involved in the production process. The method of engraving has imbued this artwork with a graphic quality, with the arrangement of the image elements reflecting a dynamic interplay of craftsmanship, and aesthetics. Seen in this light, the “fine art” of printmaking, and the "decorative art" of interior design, were not so different at all. They were deeply interconnected worlds.