Ontwerp voor een titelblad met een allegorische voorstelling 1650 - 1711

This is a design for a title page, made with pen and brown ink by Gerard de Lairesse, probably in the late 17th or early 18th century. The artist's hand is evident in the loose, flowing lines, the texture of the paper and the immediacy of the drawing process. De Lairesse has built up the image through layers of hatching and cross-hatching, adding depth and shadow to the allegorical scene. As a design, this drawing embodies the spirit of the print workshop. It stands as a testament to the skill of the draughtsman, whose work would have been translated into the graphic language of engraving, etching, or woodcut. The labor-intensive techniques required the collaboration of many hands and a deep understanding of materials. In studying it we recognize the essential role of craft in the dissemination of knowledge and culture of the time, challenging any division between fine art and the applied arts.