Lucht 1620 - 1630

This is ‘Lucht,’ or ‘Air,’ made by Cornelis Bloemaert sometime between 1603 and 1684. It’s an engraving, meaning it was made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The image shows various species of birds in flight, including a parrot, an owl, and a hummingbird. Look closely and you’ll see that the artist used only line, carefully controlled, to create the illusion of volume and texture. The density of the lines gives the birds a real sense of weight and presence. Engraving was a highly skilled craft, requiring years of training to master. Bloemaert would have needed to be both a gifted draftsman and a technically proficient printmaker. Consider the labor involved in creating this image, and the knowledge that would have been required, handed down through generations of artisans. It’s a reminder that even seemingly simple images can be the product of deep expertise. When we appreciate prints like this, we’re acknowledging a whole world of skilled labor.