Gevleugelde zeestier met een sik 1580 - 1610

This “Gevleugelde zeestier met een sik” or winged sea bull with a goatee, was made by Giovanni Andrea Maglioli, using etching. The image is achieved by covering a metal plate with wax, then using a sharp needle to draw into the wax, exposing the metal. The plate is then submerged in acid, which bites into the exposed lines. This painstaking process is repeated to achieve the desired depth and tone. Maglioli would have produced many impressions from the single plate, each one involving labor. The winged bull is a fantastic creature, emerging from decorative swirls, and the waves below, all rendered in meticulously etched lines. The textures of the bull's hide, wings, and goatee are strikingly detailed. Prints like this one circulated widely, and were collected in albums, alongside drawings. They offered easily accessible experiences of art, spreading images and ideas broadly. The amount of work involved in this process shows the engraver's commitment to their craft. The beauty and complexity of the image challenge traditional notions of art, inviting us to consider the labor and skill involved in its creation.