A wide cup with ornamental stem 1646

This print, made by Wenceslaus Hollar in 1646, shows a wide cup with an ornamental stem, likely crafted from precious metal. Prints like these were often made to circulate designs or to document prized possessions. Here, Hollar meticulously captures the cup’s complex form through the precise technique of etching, using line to define its contours and suggest volume. Consider the original object, almost certainly hammered, chased, and possibly cast. Each of these processes demands a high degree of skill and time. The cup itself, a luxury object, speaks to the conspicuous consumption of the wealthy. Hollar's print extends this economy, allowing the cup to be visually consumed by a wider audience. Prints like this one challenge the traditional hierarchy between decorative art and fine art. By documenting and disseminating designs, printmakers like Hollar blurred the lines, and allowed for a wider appreciation of the craftsmanship embedded in luxury objects.