Badende nimfen 1632 - 1693

This print, "Bathing Nymphs", was made by François de Poilly sometime in the 17th century, using an engraving technique. Poilly carefully cut lines into a metal plate, which would have been laborious and required immense skill with specialized tools. The cross-hatching to create the impression of shadow, and the fine, close lines suggesting the water surface, were all done by hand. This contrasts with the scene portrayed, which depicts an aristocratic leisure, in the classical style. Engraving was a means of democratizing images, making them widely available for study and admiration – it was the photo-reproduction of its day. While Poilly was emulating the style of classical painting, he was also participating in a much wider economy of reproduction and dissemination. He was, in effect, a skilled worker in the service of a growing art market. So, while you’re looking at this image, consider both the sensual scene depicted, and the intense labor that brought it to you.