Leda en de zwaan 1730 - 1780

This print, titled "Leda en de zwaan," was made by an anonymous artist using the technique of etching. This process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy ground, scratching an image into the ground with a needle, and then immersing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. The resulting lines hold ink, which is then transferred to paper under high pressure. Notice the fineness of the lines, and the stark contrast between light and shadow; these are hallmarks of etching. The method allowed for relatively quick reproduction, making images like this accessible to a wider audience. In this context, the tale of Leda and the Swan takes on a different significance. The myth becomes a commodity, available for consumption. It also speaks to the labor involved, a skilled artisan translating classical themes into reproducible form, contributing to the circulation of images and ideas.