Drie kinderen en een gevleugelde sater 1525 - 1610

This small print of unknown origin shows a winged satyr and three children rendered in ink on paper. It was made using the intaglio process, where the design is incised into a metal plate, and then the recessed lines are filled with ink for printing. Notice how the graphic lines shape the figures, creating form and texture through careful hatching and cross-hatching. These are all techniques that demand painstaking labor. The etcher's skill is evident in the level of detail achieved on such a small scale. Prints like these were often made for reproduction and dissemination of designs. This highlights the increasing industrialization of art making. The image is a copy, indicative of a growing market for accessible art. The relatively low cost would have allowed a wider audience to enjoy decorative imagery, marking a shift in art consumption. The print's value lies not only in its aesthetic qualities, but also in the historical context of its production. This work blurs the boundary between craft and fine art, reflecting the socio-economic dynamics of artistic production.