Design for a Cartouche and a Representation of 'Taste', Plate 4 from 'Neu Inventierte auf die artigste Facon Sehr nutzliche Schild.' 1745 - 1755

Johann Georg Pintz designed this print, one of a series, as an example for metalworkers. Created in Augsburg, a major center of metalworking and decorative arts in Southern Germany, this series reflects the period's fascination with elaborate ornament. The cartouche, an oval or oblong design, surrounds a scene representing 'Taste,' or 'Gustus'. Note the elegant figures set within what appears to be a theatrical scene. This print served as a kind of pattern-book, to be used by artisans. Its purpose was less about high art and more about offering practical designs which could be adapted to decorate functional objects. The emphasis here is on skillful craftsmanship and the commercial application of art. Understanding an artwork like this requires us to look beyond traditional art history. We need to consider the economic structures that supported the production of decorative arts and how those objects were integrated into everyday life. Resources such as trade records, guild archives, and period inventories can reveal the significance of these designs within their original social context.