Twee putti, elkaar omhelzend, bij een plant in pot 1675 - 1685

This print of two embracing putti, cherubic boys, with a potted plant was made by Pietro Antonio Cotta, using the intaglio technique. This process involves incising an image into a metal plate, inking the recesses, and then pressing paper against the plate to transfer the image. Look closely, and you can see how the network of etched lines creates tone and texture. Cotta has skillfully used hatching to give a three-dimensional quality to the figures and the drapery, capturing the softness of skin and the delicate petals of the flowers. This approach to printmaking demands meticulous labor, each line carefully considered to build up the image. Intaglio prints like this one were relatively easy to produce, and played an important role in disseminating images widely across Europe. So while it may appear to be "just" a print, it's important to remember the craft and care that went into its making, and the important role these images had in their time.