Cartouche met rolwerk 1579

This anonymous print, "Cartouche met rolwerk," lacks a specific date, yet its style speaks volumes about the era that bore it. Created during a time of exploration and colonialism, this cartouche, or frame, is a product of the burgeoning exchange between cultures. While seemingly a mere decorative element, the fusion of classical forms with abstract ornamentation reflects the period’s complex negotiation between established European aesthetics and the allure of the ‘exotic.’ Cartouches like these were often used to frame maps or title pages, thus participating in how knowledge was organized and disseminated, as well as influencing the construction of global narratives during the age of discovery. This piece reminds us that even the most seemingly benign artworks are laden with the cultural assumptions and social structures of their time.