Verscheidene ontwerpen 1703

This sheet of designs was made by Pierre Bourdon, probably in the late 17th century. It’s an etching, meaning that a metal plate was coated with wax, the design scratched into it, and then acid was applied, eating away the exposed metal. The resulting lines were then inked and printed. This was an intaglio process, the opposite of a woodcut. Bourdon produced this design for other craftspeople to use. It isn't a finished work, but a template, a guide, and raw material for a new creation. The designs would be appealing to silversmiths, ceramicists, and other makers of luxury goods. The proliferation of printmaking in this period reflects an increasingly commercialized world, with artisans looking for ways to meet demand. Bourdon's drawing is incredibly precise, showing the controlled labour that underlies luxury. His work reminds us that even the finest objects begin with an act of design, and the skill of a draughtsman.