Venus Finding Mars Asleep 1540 - 1550

This print, Venus Finding Mars Asleep, was made in the mid-16th century by Léon Davent, using a process called etching. The lines you see are not drawn directly on the paper; instead, the artist covered a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant coating, drew into that coating with a stylus, and then bathed the plate in acid. This bit the drawn lines into the metal. The plate was then inked and printed onto paper. The result is a composition that is both delicate and muscular. The figures of Venus and Mars, along with Cupid, are rendered with a high level of detail, as are the discarded armor and weapons. Davent’s mastery of etching is evident in the tonal variation of the artwork. It is important to note that this print is not only about what it depicts, but also about the process by which it was made. Etching made images accessible to a wide audience in early modern Europe. By understanding the materials, making, and historical context of this print, we gain a richer appreciation for the print as an image, and as an object.