Amor draagt bundel pijlen naar zijn koker after 1617

This print, titled "Amor draagt bundel pijlen naar zijn koker," was made by an anonymous artist using the intaglio process. In this technique, a metal plate is incised with lines that hold ink, revealing crisp detail and tonal variation when printed. Look closely, and you’ll see how the pressure of the printing process has left an impression around the image's perimeter. While we might think of printmaking as a reproductive medium, this is actually an original work of art with a tactile presence of its own. Prints such as this circulated widely, playing a crucial role in disseminating visual ideas in early modern Europe. The engraver’s skill was highly valued, allowing for the efficient production of images that found their way into books, broadsides, and individual collections. Consider the labor that went into this seemingly modest object, and its vital contribution to the period’s burgeoning visual culture.