Standbeeld van Venus met Amor die op een dolfijn zit 1636 - 1647

Cornelis Bloemaert created this engraving of Venus with Amor riding a dolphin, using metal plates and painstaking skill. Engraving, a printmaking technique, involves cutting lines into a metal plate, inking the recessed areas, and transferring the image to paper under high pressure. Look closely and you'll notice the fineness of the lines. This technique demands precision and control, requiring the engraver to master the burin, a specialized tool for cutting into metal. The textures achieved – the smooth skin of Venus, the rippling drapery, the scales of the dolphin – demonstrate Bloemaert's technical virtuosity. This level of detail and refinement speaks to the value placed on skilled handcraft in the production of art. Before industrial reproduction, engravings like this played a crucial role in disseminating images and ideas. The labor-intensive process reflects a pre-industrial mode of production. Considering these elements allows us to understand not only the image itself, but also its place in the culture of its time.