Aarde 1709

Bernard Picart made this print, "Aarde," sometime between the late 17th and early 18th centuries, using an engraving technique. The image shows a marble statue of "La Terre," Earth, standing in the Gardens of Versailles. Engraving is a meticulous process, requiring a skilled artisan to cut lines into a metal plate, which then holds ink to transfer the image onto paper. Note the fine lines that define the figure’s drapery and the subtle gradations that give form to the body and lion, a symbol of strength and dominion over nature. Consider the labor involved in creating this print: from quarrying the marble for the original sculpture, to carving it, to the engraver's work of translating it into a reproducible image. The print serves not only as a visual record, but also as a testament to human ingenuity and the hierarchies of labor that underpin artistic production. It reminds us that every artwork is the product of skilled hands and complex social relationships, challenging our understanding of art and craft.