Ongelijk liefdespaar met Cupido 1589 - 1615

This engraving, made by Lucas Kilian around the early 17th century, employs a technique with a rich history. Lines are incised into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The fineness of the lines, and their close proximity, allows for subtle tonal gradations. Engraving was crucial for disseminating images at this time, a truly industrial technique – although one requiring a high degree of skill. Note the clarity and precision that Kilian has brought to bear. The scene depicts an imbalanced relationship, with an older man and a young woman, Cupid nearby, and inscriptions in both Latin and German underscoring the theme of mismatched love and financial exchange. The act of creating this print can itself be seen as a form of cultural production. The use of this technique emphasizes the commodification of imagery and ideas, reflecting broader social issues of labor and consumption during the early modern period.