Venus geeft Amor orders om Pluto's hart te doorboren met een pijl 1565

This engraving, made by Cornelis Cort in the late 16th century, depicts Venus instructing Cupid to strike Pluto with an arrow. Prints like this one served a crucial function in disseminating classical stories and artistic styles throughout Europe at the time. Cort, who worked in both the Netherlands and Italy, played a key role in this process. His engravings, after works by artists like Raphael, helped to popularize the Italian Renaissance style north of the Alps. The image presents a hierarchy of divine power, but consider also the institutional framework. Engravings were often commissioned by publishers and patrons, influencing the subjects chosen and the style adopted. Close examination of watermarks, printing techniques, and archival records can reveal more about the social conditions that shaped this image. Understanding this artwork requires attention to both its classical sources and its place within the history of printmaking.