Beeld van Venus in de noordelijke galerij van het Stadhuis op de Dam 1655

This print of a sculpture was made by Hubert Quellinus, who lived in the 17th century. It shows Venus in the Town Hall of Amsterdam. The printmaking technique used here is engraving, where the artist manually cuts lines into a metal plate. This requires considerable skill and precision. Note the density of the marks, and the hatching used to give an illusion of three-dimensionality. The choice of printing as a medium is telling. Unlike the hand-carved sculpture it represents, this image could be easily reproduced, allowing the Dutch Republic’s growing middle class to participate in a culture previously reserved for the elite. Quellinus has skillfully translated the qualities of the original sculpture – its texture, weight, and form – into a different, more accessible medium. Looking closely at the print makes us think about how skills and tools in both craft and fine art were central to art and society. The print of Venus is a reminder that all art has a context, and is touched by labor, politics, and consumption.