Satyr familie met man en vrouw met kind 1515 - 1520

This print, Satyr Family, was made by Benedetto Montagna around the turn of the 16th century, using the intaglio process. This involved engraving lines into a copper plate, inking the surface, then wiping it clean so that ink remained only in the etched lines. The plate was then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Montagna’s skill is clear in the fine, deliberate lines that define form and texture. Look closely, and you can see how he has varied the density and direction of the lines to create areas of light and shadow, adding volume and depth to the figures. The printmaking process allowed for multiples, making art more accessible to a wider audience than unique paintings or sculptures. Yet it was also highly skilled work, demanding precise handwork. The resulting prints existed in a space between mass production and individual craftsmanship, much like the world of design today. Considering its material and mode of production allows us to appreciate how it challenges traditional hierarchies within the arts.