Milo van Croton aangevallen door een leeuw 1786 - 1808

Bénédict Alphonse Nicolet made this print depicting Milo of Croton being attacked by a lion sometime in the late 18th century. It's a hand-colored engraving, meaning Nicolet would have first etched the design into a metal plate, then painstakingly applied color to bring the scene to life. Engraving is an indirect process, requiring both physical strength and control, and was a highly skilled occupation at the time. The act of engraving itself, with its precise lines and tonal modulations, influences the image's overall feel, lending a sense of drama and tension to the scene. We can think about the labor involved in making such a print, from the engraver's focused hand to the wider systems of production and distribution that allowed it to circulate. Prints like this one played a crucial role in disseminating visual culture, making art accessible to a wider audience beyond the elite circles who could afford original paintings. Ultimately, understanding the material and social context of this print helps us appreciate its historical significance, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commerce.