Two Cupids, One Carrying a Torch, Another a Bow 1727 - 1760

Pierre Alexandre Aveline created this print of two cupids sometime before 1760, using the intaglio technique. Intaglio involves engraving an image into a metal plate, applying ink, and then using a press to transfer the image to paper. The fineness of the lines speaks to Aveline's mastery of this process. Notice the shadows on the cupids' bodies, achieved through tiny, closely-spaced lines. The printmaking tradition has always been tied to commerce. Prints like these were luxury items for those who could afford them, decorative objects made possible by skilled labor. Yet, they also democratized images, making them more accessible than unique paintings. In the end, appreciating this print means understanding its connection to the world of craft and commercial exchange, a world in which beauty and skill intersected with economic forces.