Cartouche
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1646
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Cartouche is a 1646 ink by François Collignon, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This image is a black-and-white drawing of a fancy, swirling frame. It looks like a shield shape with curved, leafy decorations on top and sides. Inside the frame, there’s a smooth, empty space, and below it, waves and clouds add more detail. The lines are precise, almost like lace. The artist signed it at the bottom, and the word "etching" hints at how it was made. This style was popular in the 1600s for decorating walls or books. If you like this, look up etching to see how artists create these detailed prints.
