Venus with Two Putti 1500 - 1538

Albrecht Altdorfer made this miniature engraving called 'Venus with Two Putti' using a metal plate, probably copper, and a sharp tool called a burin. The fineness of the engraved lines dictate the final image. See how the network of lines, closely packed together, create areas of deep shadow, in contrast with the paler open areas where less lines have been applied. The image would have been printed by applying ink to the plate, wiping the surface clean and leaving ink only in the engraved lines, before pressing paper against the plate to transfer the image onto the sheet. Although the image is of classical figures, the printmaking process itself was very much a product of Altdorfer’s time. The proliferation of printmaking in the 16th Century brought images to a wider audience, making art accessible to a broader public. By focusing on the process and context of its creation, we can appreciate the work not just as an image, but as a cultural artifact deeply embedded in the social and economic landscape of its time.