Venus, back view, from "Oeuvre de Canova: Recueil de Statues..." 1817

Domenico Marchetti made this print of a sculpture by Antonio Canova sometime in the early 19th century. It is rendered using etching and engraving, essentially a process of controlled scratching that holds ink, and then is transferred to paper. The print meticulously documents Canova's Venus. Notice the stippling that defines the curvature of the goddess’s back, an intensive labor to mimic the smooth polish of marble. The stark contrast of light and shadow across the statue creates a theatrical effect, typical of the Neoclassical style, and shows the technical skill of the printmaker. This image, like so many others of the period, was made for dissemination. In the absence of photography, prints were the way to share artworks far and wide. It is also worth noting that the making of such a detailed print required a division of labor, with specialists focusing on different aspects of the image. As such, this print sits at the nexus of art, craft, and industrial production.