Slapende putto op dolfijn 1580 - 1608

This tiny print, made by Giovanni Andrea Maglioli, depicts a sleeping putto – a chubby male child from classical mythology – reclining on a dolphin. It was made using the intaglio process, in which fine lines are incised into a copper plate. The plate is then inked, and wiped clean so that only the incisions hold the ink. Finally, paper is pressed against the plate in a printing press, transferring the image. Look closely, and you’ll see how the density and direction of lines create the form of the body. The shading suggests a tactile quality, as if we could reach out and touch the soft skin of the putto and the smooth scales of the dolphin. Engraving is a laborious process, demanding great skill and patience, and this highly finished print would have been valued as a precious demonstration of such labor. Ultimately, understanding the making of this print gives us insight into the artist's virtuosity and the value placed on skilled craftsmanship. It challenges the idea that some art forms are superior to others, reminding us that meticulous labor and artistic vision can converge in unexpected ways.