Twee bassins 1667

Françoise Bouzonnet created this print of two basins sometime in the 17th century. It is an etching, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using acid. Consider the skill involved. The etcher would have to work with absolute precision, moving their tools to create lines that hold ink. This is not the spontaneous gesture of a sketch, but careful, controlled labour. The final print is also produced through a labour-intensive process, pressing paper against the inked plate. Prints like this one allowed designs to be disseminated widely, influencing the production of luxury goods across Europe. The image is meant to be instructive. We see classical motifs and the satyrs at the base, with a shell motif, all rendered as though from metal. Such prints were used by silversmiths and other artisans as guides for their own creations. So while this artwork is "just" a print, it played a crucial role in shaping the material world of its time. It reminds us that the division between design, craft, and art is a modern invention.