Diana Discovering Callisto's Pregnancy 1566

Cornelis Cort made 'Diana Discovering Callisto's Pregnancy' using an engraving technique. The artwork is made by cutting lines into a metal plate, applying ink to the plate, and then pressing paper onto it to transfer the image. The process of engraving is labor-intensive, requiring a high degree of skill and precision. Look closely and you can see how Cort carefully controlled the depth and thickness of the lines to create a range of tones and textures, from the dark, shadowed areas to the bright, highlighted surfaces. The resulting image has a crisp, linear quality that is characteristic of engraving. Engraving was a key method for disseminating images at the time, functioning almost like a printing press. Consider the labor involved in the entire process, from the artist's hand to the printing and distribution of the image. Cort's image is not just a work of art, but also a product of a complex system of production and consumption. This highlights how art and craft are deeply intertwined with social and economic forces.