Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures
1645
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
About the artist
1645
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures is a 1645 ink by Hans Janssen, a Baroque work, held at National Gallery of Art.
This is a tall, narrow design for a knife or fork handle. It’s all black lines on a light background, showing three small scenes stacked vertically. The top scene has a person holding a bowl, the middle one shows a group around a table, and the bottom one has a family-like scene. Swirly decorations frame each picture, with clouds and odd shapes at the edges. The artist packed a lot into a small space—tiny figures and busy details fill every inch. The lines are sharp and precise, creating shadows and texture without color. Next, look up engraving to see how artists like this made intricate prints.
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