Amphitrite op een dolfijn 1683 - 1733

This print of Amphitrite on a dolphin was made by an anonymous artist, using the technique of engraving. Engraving involves using a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into a metal plate, which is then inked and printed. The fineness of the lines is remarkable, given the effort that would have been required to produce them. Look closely, and you can see the way the image is built up through careful strokes. The image is made entirely from lines – a testament to the engraver's skill in conveying form and tone through this painstaking process. Engraving was a key technology for the distribution of images, allowing them to be reproduced and disseminated widely. So, while this image depicts a mythological scene, it also speaks to the rise of print culture and the technologies that made art more accessible to a broader public. It’s a reminder that even seemingly straightforward images are the result of particular processes, and have a distinct social context.