Dronken Silenus en putti met druiventrossen 1500 - 1550

Andrea Mantegna made this print of *Drunken Silenus and putti with druiventrossen* without any precise date, using the technique of engraving. This is an intaglio process, where the image is incised into a metal plate, ink is applied, and then the surface is wiped clean, leaving ink only in the engraved lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The quality of the printed image is totally dependent on the artisan's skill in cutting the plate. Consider the lines, the only real material presence here, and how Mantegna manipulates them to define forms, create textures, and suggest light and shadow. Notice the cross-hatching, which builds up tone and volume, and the fine, delicate lines that define the figures' musculature. This print isn't just a picture; it's a testament to the engraver's skill, patience, and artistic vision, a reminder that the meaning of an image is deeply intertwined with the labor and techniques that brought it into being. It challenges the idea that fine art exists separately from craft.