Gevleugelde vrouwelijke herme 1528 - 1573

Etienne Delaune created this tiny engraving, ‘Gevleugelde vrouwelijke herme,’ using a burin to cut lines into a copper plate. Look closely, and you'll see that the design is incredibly ornate, brimming with allegorical figures and decorative flourishes. The winged female figure at its center, emerging from a classical pillar or “herme,” holds an object in each hand, flanked by vases of flowers and dragons. The material is crucial here. Copperplate engraving, while laborious, allowed for the mass production of images. These prints, like this one, circulated widely and served as models for artisans working in other media like ceramics, metalwork, and textiles. Delaune was a goldsmith by training, and it shows. The composition reflects his refined skill and artistry. By considering the print’s purpose as a template, we can appreciate how printmaking democratized design, bringing sophisticated aesthetics to a broader audience, blurring the lines between art, craft, and commerce.