Ornamental Design 1689 - 1699

This elaborate ornamental design was made by Jacob Roer, using pen and brown ink on paper. The drawing demonstrates a mastery of line and shading. The artist's hand is evident in every swirl and flourish, and the effect is impressive. Consider the social context for these drawings: they were not autonomous artworks, but rather designs that would have been translated into other mediums, like woodwork, plaster, or metal. The design is conceived to be manufactured. It speaks to a world of specialized labor, where designers like Roer generated ideas, and artisans executed them. The drawing is meant to showcase a possibility: how the patron's desires could be manifested in expertly crafted form. The drawing becomes a vehicle for social aspiration, promising entry into a world of elegance and refinement, available to those who could afford it.