Minerva en Apollo 1684 - 1713

Pieter Schenk created this print of Minerva en Apollo around the turn of the 18th century. The image is made using the intaglio process of etching, where lines are bitten into a metal plate using acid, then filled with ink and printed onto paper. The resulting print has a tactile quality. Look closely, and you’ll see how the etched lines define form and shadow. This method, while indirect, allowed Schenk to achieve remarkable detail. The contrast between light and dark creates a dramatic effect, highlighting the figures' musculature and drapery. Consider the labor involved: from preparing the metal plate to the act of printing itself. Each impression would have been made by hand, reflecting a world of artisanal production, one far removed from the digital images we see today. This print offers a glimpse into a time when art-making was deeply intertwined with craft and manual skill.