Mars Sleeping c. 1618

Jacques de Gheyn III made this print, "Mars Sleeping", using the intaglio process. This labor-intensive method involves engraving lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using a press to transfer the image onto paper. The choice of printmaking is crucial to understanding this work, because it was a mechanical means of production. This made it possible to disseminate images widely in early modern Europe. De Gheyn's fine, deliberate lines give texture to the scene, from the cross-hatched background to the folds of Mars's drapery. It is also evident in the intricate details of his discarded armor. The choice of the subject and the medium go hand-in-hand. Mars, the god of war, is shown disarmed and at rest. In a sense, this print is also disarming: rather than a unique, precious object, it is accessible and democratic. It reminds us that all forms of making, whether warfare or art, are rooted in specific material conditions, and can be used for different social ends.