Twee putti met de tafelen der wet en een wierookvat 1683 - 1733

Bernard Picart created this print of two putti with the tablets of the law and a censer, sometime around the turn of the 18th century. It’s made using a printing technique called engraving, where an image is incised into a metal plate, inked, and then pressed onto paper. The image shows two cherubic figures amidst swirling clouds. One holds the tablets of the law, while the other suspends a censer, releasing smoke. Look closely, and you’ll see that the quality of the engraving gives a crispness to the lines, especially in the billowing clouds and the delicate features of the putti. Engraving demands precision and control. The engraver uses a tool called a burin to carve lines into the metal, each stroke deliberate and unchangeable. This process is labor-intensive, requiring hours of skilled work to create the final image. In Picart's time, printmaking was a key means of disseminating imagery, connecting the skill of the artist to a wider world of commerce and consumption. This print testifies to the enduring power of meticulous craft.