Endpaper with Scenes of the Trades
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
1790
ink
From the collection of National Gallery of Art
This is a long, narrow strip of blue paper packed with tiny gold scenes. Each box shows people working—carpenters sawing wood, bakers shaping dough, doctors tending patients. Some scenes look busy, others quiet, but all are framed by a thin gold border. The gold ink stands out sharply against the blue, making the details pop. The paper looks old and slightly worn, like it’s been handled a lot. If you like this, check out woodcut to see how artists carved these images.
