Artwork
Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures
Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures is an ink print by the Baroque artist Hans Janssen. It dates from 1645 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
Overview
Hans Janssen’s 1645 engraving, titled *Handle for Knife or Fork, Ornamented with Figures*, presents a slender, elongated composition resembling the shape of a utensil’s handle. The work is signed “H. Janssen Fecit,” confirming the artist’s authorship. Its decorative program combines ornamental scrollwork with figurative scenes, creating a narrative‑like surface that functions as a decorative metal design rather than a conventional portrait or landscape.
Subject & Meaning
The upper portion features a scrolling band that supports a diminutive lion crowned with a regal emblem, suggesting authority or heraldic symbolism.
The upper portion features a scrolling band that supports a diminutive lion crowned with a regal emblem, suggesting authority or heraldic symbolism. Beneath, two distinct vignettes depict groups of elegantly dressed figures; one appears solemn, while the other shows a woman holding a balance, a possible allusion to justice or equilibrium. These elements together may convey moral or allegorical themes typical of mid‑17th‑century decorative art.
Technique & Style
Executed as an engraving, the piece relies on fine line work to render intricate patterns, including ornamental motifs, a book, and a bird in the background. The contrast between dense scrollwork and the more open figurative zones demonstrates Janssen’s skill in balancing decorative richness with narrative clarity, characteristic of Northern European printmaking of the period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1645, the engraving reflects the Baroque taste for elaborate ornamentation in functional objects. While specific ownership records are scarce, the work’s signature and dated inscription provide clear provenance, linking it directly to Janssen’s workshop and the broader market for ornamental prints that were often used as design templates for metalwork.
Context
During the mid‑17th century, engravers frequently produced pattern books and decorative sheets that served as models for artisans crafting metal, wood, or textile objects. Janssen’s handle design fits within this tradition, offering a ready‑made decorative scheme that could be transferred onto actual knife or fork handles, merging artistic illustration with practical application.
Artist & collection
