Venus mourning Adonis, seated beneath a tree and embracing him, with Cupid at left 1810 - 1820

This delicate print, "Venus mourning Adonis", was made by an anonymous artist using engraving, a process with a long and fascinating history. Engraving begins with a metal plate, traditionally copper. The artist uses a tool called a burin to carve lines directly into the surface. This is painstaking work: the deeper the cut, the more ink it will hold, and the darker the resulting line in the print. Once the image is fully engraved, ink is applied to the plate and then wiped away, leaving ink only in the carved lines. The plate is then pressed onto paper, transferring the image. The fine, precise lines visible here are characteristic of engraving, lending the scene its detailed and somewhat formal quality. The technique, demanding a high degree of skill and control, was often used for reproducing paintings, making art more accessible. This print is a testament to the engraver's artistry, transforming a grand mythological scene into an intimate, portable object. It reminds us that art-making extends beyond the hand of the original artist, encompassing the skills and labor of those who translate it into other forms.