This print is from the wondrous Neuw Grotteßken Buch (1610) by German goldsmith and engraver Christoph Jamnitzer. The book contains a collection of whimsical and imaginative grotesques - ornamental motifs in which plants, animals, people and monsters merge in impossible combinations. These designs were used as inspiration for silverware, ornamentation, furniture art and architecture in late Renaissance Europe.
Jamnitzer's style is deeply rooted in Mannerist tradition: lavish, technically brilliant and steeped in symbolism. The prints are both decorative and fascinatingly layered, perfect for those who love art with character and history.
Why this work is unique:
A rare example of early 17th-century graphic design
Bursting with visual imagination: dragon-like fabulous animals, fantasised plants, architectural elements
A real conversation piece for study, studio or arty living room
Hernâni Fernandes Tavares e Sousa is a versatile artist, illustrator and pattern designer based in Belgium. His work is a captivating mix of expressive drawings, gestural lines and abstract explorations, expressing a wide range of emotions, sensations and hidden memories. Hernâni draws inspiration from nature and.. Read more…