Folding square 1685 - 1715

Curator: Here we have "Folding Square," a rather unique drawing, actually an engraving, believed to be crafted between 1685 and 1715. Editor: Well, isn't that just…striking? Like something incredibly functional trying its darnedest to be pretty. Curator: Precisely! It blends the practical—it’s essentially a ruler and a square, very vital for accurate drawing back in the day—with decorative flourishes that just delight. The scrollwork! The lettering. It’s design thinking in its purest form. Editor: The decorative aspects, to me, are not integrated very successfully—and that gives the entire drawing a charming tension. It's as if two competing spirits inhabit the same object. And what did they use these tools to draw anyway? Curator: Everything! Architectural plans, technical drawings, even maps would all rely on tools like this. The engraving, the medium itself, highlights the value of precise lines and calculated relationships. It elevates utility, right? Editor: So it suggests an emerging sense of the objective. Does this tension resolve over time? Curator: Maybe that's what history asks of the present, a constant interrogation of values...it’s housed right here at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It makes one appreciate the sheer craft involved and, I think, reflects on what "good design" truly means. Editor: I came expecting pure function but found the drama of aspiration. It’s got that little whisper: "even tools dream of beauty.” Well, I was right, this one truly pops. Curator: Agreed! It is much more captivating than I would have anticipated; and is also a real treat.