Bacchus en Venus in een koets getrokken door centauren 1556

Cornelis Cort made this engraving of Bacchus and Venus in the 16th century. The image is made by cutting lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper – a reproductive technique that allowed images to circulate widely. Look closely, and you’ll notice that the image shows the god of wine being drawn in a carriage by centaurs, accompanied by Venus. It’s a scene of abundance, but also one of labor. Notice the straining muscles of the centaurs, and the way they bear the weight of the carriage and the overflowing vessels they carry. This suggests a world powered by physical effort. Cort’s skill with the burin is evident in the rendering of textures, from the smoothness of skin to the rough hair of the centaurs. Through his craft, Cort transforms a classical scene into a commentary on labor and the physical world. It's a reminder that even in scenes of divine revelry, work is always present, shaping our experience and understanding.