Drie friezen met bladranken en ovale medaillons 1696

Anthonie de Winter made this print, Drie friezen met bladranken en ovale medaillons, in the late 17th-century. The work is built entirely from line, using the technique of etching. This intaglio printmaking method involves drawing with a sharp needle through a waxy ground on a metal plate, which is then bathed in acid. The drawn lines are etched into the plate, allowing it to hold ink which can then be transferred to paper. Note how the stark contrasts in tone give this ornamental design its visual punch. The composition is teeming with vegetal forms, but also includes other motifs such as human figures and animals. Given its flatness, it was clearly intended as a template for others to use. De Winter was invested in pattern-making, likely for commercial purposes, and therefore had a specific role in the cycle of production and consumption. In the end, this modest print shows how the division of labor plays out in art and design.