Various Designs for Rocaille Ornaments, Plate 2 from: 'Fortsezung von unterschielichen Auszierungen zu allerleij nüzlich anzuwenden' 1745 - 1755

Editor: Here we have "Various Designs for Rocaille Ornaments," an engraving from somewhere between 1745 and 1755 by Jeremias Wachsmuth. Looking at this densely ornamented composition, I can't help but think, "over the top," but in a delightful way! What do you make of this elaborate plate? Curator: Oh, isn't it glorious? To me, it’s like stumbling into a confectionery, all swirling sugar and architectural fantasies. This plate captures the spirit of the Rococo. Consider it as pure visual play— a rejection of the previous era's stricter lines for something altogether more exuberant. Do you notice the lack of symmetry? Editor: Absolutely! It's a controlled chaos of curves and flourishes, which gives it a whimsical energy. I can almost picture these motifs adorning the interiors of grand palaces. Curator: Precisely! And it wasn't just palaces. These designs were intended to inspire artisans creating everything from furniture to metalwork. Imagine taking one of these ideas and embellishing a simple object, suddenly transforming it into a work of art. This reflects an interest in democratizing luxury. It’s not only the rich who might live with beauty, but the rising middle classes, too. The Wachsmuth would have felt he was changing the world one curve at a time. Editor: I never considered the aspirational aspect of it. It really does reframe my initial interpretation from pure extravagance to something more…accessible and influential. I suppose that’s why this kind of decorative art lasted. Curator: Indeed! The Rococo, at its heart, celebrates beauty in the everyday. So look closely, find the wit, find the curve, and ask yourself, how might you re-design the world with Wachsmuth’s toolkit in your hands?