Ornament with Foliage and Birds

Art Historical Context

Created between 1601 and 1650, “Ornament with Foliage and Birds” is an engraving by Bartolomeus van Lochom after designs by Hans Janssen. This delicate print captures the era’s fascination with nature-inspired decoration, featuring intertwined leaves, vines, and lively birds rendered with precise line work typical of Flemish ornamental prints. Such designs flourished across Europe as artists responded to the growing demand for elegant motifs in both fine and applied arts. Engraving proved especially valuable during the seventeenth century because it allowed intricate patterns to be reproduced and shared widely among craftsmen. Artisans working in textiles, metalwork, furniture, and architecture often consulted prints like this one as ready-made sources of inspiration. Van Lochom’s faithful translation of Janssen’s composition thus served both aesthetic and practical purposes, helping to circulate refined decorative ideas beyond the walls of noble households. Now part of the National Gallery of Art’s Rosenwald Collection, the work offers today’s visitors a glimpse into the collaborative world of printmaking, where designers and engravers together shaped the visual language of the Baroque period.