Leda en de zwaan c. 1537 - 1555

Cornelis Bos created this small print, "Leda and the Swan," sometime in the mid-16th century using the intaglio technique. This process involves engraving lines into a metal plate, inking the surface, and then wiping it clean so that ink remains only in the incised lines. The pressure of the printing press forces the paper into these lines, transferring the image. Look closely, and you'll see how the varying depth and density of the engraved lines create a range of tones and textures, from the soft plumage of the swan to the smooth skin of Leda. Bos was not just an artist, but also a skilled craftsman. Intaglio printing was an essential part of the era's visual culture, allowing for the mass production and distribution of images. This print, therefore, exists at the intersection of artistic expression and commercial enterprise. Bos's technical skill, combined with the print's subject matter, speaks to the complex relationship between art, craft, and commerce in the Renaissance.