Ganymede, leaning on an eagle, receiving the cup from Hebe 1786

This print of Ganymede, leaning on an eagle, receiving the cup from Hebe, was made by Benoît Louis Henriquez in the 18th century. Henriquez used a process called engraving to make this image. Lines were incised into a metal plate, ink was applied, and then the plate was pressed onto paper to transfer the image. The sharpness of the lines and the subtle tonal gradations give the scene a dramatic quality. Look closely, and you'll see how Henriquez varied the density of the lines to create shadows and highlights, giving volume to the figures and depth to the composition. Engraving was a highly skilled and laborious process. While Henriquez was an artist in his own right, prints like this were often made to reproduce paintings for a wider audience. This one reflects the hierarchical society of the time. Prints like this, which could be produced in multiples, were a form of cultural currency, spreading artistic ideas and reflecting the tastes of the elite, making art more accessible but only to certain classes.