Plate Ten, from A New Book of Ornaments 1704

This is Plate Ten from "A New Book of Ornaments," made by Simon Gribelin II, sometime around the turn of the 18th century, using the intaglio printmaking technique of engraving. This method involves meticulously incising an image into a metal plate, applying ink to the grooves, and then pressing paper against the plate with considerable force. Look closely at the image and you can see the effect of this intense pressure, most noticeably along the neatline of the plate. Gribelin’s skill is evident in the incredible fineness of the lines, which create a range of tonal effects. This design exemplifies the period’s taste for ornamentation, intended to be a sourcebook for other craftsmen. Its dense composition and classical motifs would have been appealing to those decorating luxury goods for elite consumers. It's easy to overlook prints like these, seen as merely functional. But recognizing the labor and skill involved, and understanding their place in a wider world of making, allows us to appreciate these works as both art and design.