Sculptuur van de Griekse godin Hebe 1790 - 1844

This print of a sculpture of the Greek goddess Hebe was made by Domenico Marchetti in the late 18th or early 19th century. The image is a product of the intaglio printmaking process, specifically engraving. A metal plate, likely copper, would have been meticulously carved with fine lines using a burin. These lines hold the ink, and when pressed onto paper, create the image. Consider the labor involved in this meticulous process. Each line that defines Hebe’s form, the drapery, and the subtle gradations of light and shadow, represents hours of skilled work. Engraving was a highly valued craft, demanding precision and control. This print, as a multiple, could disseminate the aesthetic ideals of classical sculpture to a wider audience. It also invites reflection on the relationship between original sculpture and reproduction, between the hand of the sculptor and the engraver, challenging us to think about value, labor, and the circulation of images in society.