Omlijsting met vruchten 1778 - 1779

Editor: This is "Omlijsting met vruchten," or "Frame with Fruit," an engraving made around 1778-1779 by Gottlieb Friedrich Riedel. It’s incredibly detailed for such delicate work, a composition filled with an almost architectural structure playing host to a baroque cornucopia. What strikes you about this piece? Curator: Oh, it whisks me away to grand estates and the overflowing abundance that whispered of power! It's Baroque excess meets Enlightenment order, wouldn't you say? Look at the way the fruit spills forth within that meticulously rendered architectural frame. What does it suggest to you about control versus nature? Editor: I see what you mean about control. The frame is very structured, but the fruit has an almost wild, untamed feel to it. Is there some kind of commentary being made by contrasting these styles, and what would you guess it says? Curator: Perhaps! This dance of opposites was very à la mode. The frame declares man's ability to construct and contain, while the unruly fruit reminds us of the unstoppable forces of nature. A playful battle between artifice and reality. Doesn’t it make you think of those grand tables groaning with feasts? Editor: That’s such a vivid image. This engraving becomes a celebration of both artistry and natural bounty, even social commentary on nature and privilege. Curator: Precisely! And that little script at the bottom; It’s a flourish, like Riedel is adding a secret message. What a curious dialogue! I shall have to look for more!