Cupido 1764

Christian von Mechel created this print, Cupido, using etching and engraving, two techniques that demand precision and control. The process begins with a metal plate, often copper, covered in a waxy, acid-resistant ground. The design is then scratched into this ground, exposing the metal. Acid bites into these exposed lines, creating grooves. For areas of tone, the plate is textured with tiny dots. The ink fills the grooves, and the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look at the Cupid’s skin – smooth shading achieved by subtle tonal variations. Consider the labor, the hours of meticulous work, to create such a delicate image, reminiscent of a painting. Prints like this democratized art; they made images widely available, connecting aesthetics to a burgeoning market economy. The Cupid, with his bow, becomes not just a symbol of love, but also of production, distribution, and consumption. This print reminds us that art is never separate from the world of work.