Leto (Latona) verandert de Lyciërs in kikkers 1560 - 1600

Johann Sadeler I made this print, Leto (Latona) verandert de Lyciërs in kikkers, using engraving, a process of incising an image onto a metal plate and using this as a matrix for printing. The linear quality of the print reveals its making; the cross-hatched lines create tone and volume. As an image, it is a testament to the skill and labor involved. This wasn’t just a technical demonstration, however. Sadeler was participating in a printmaking boom across Europe. These images served to disseminate classical stories, making them widely accessible. Printmaking like this can be understood in relation to the social and economic forces of the time. The reproductive nature of the medium, although requiring much artistic skill, was tied to wider issues of labor, politics, and consumption in 16th-century Europe. Ultimately, examining the materials and processes illuminates the meaning of this artwork, prompting us to reconsider traditional boundaries between craft and fine art.