Mars en Cupido 1638

Hendrik van der Borcht II created this print, Mars en Cupido, sometime in the 17th century, using the intaglio technique. Intaglio is a process where the image is incised into a surface, here a metal plate, and the incised line or area holds the ink. This is achieved through techniques like engraving or etching, which require careful handling of tools to create fine lines and textures. The density of these lines creates the tonal variation in the print, giving form to the figures of Mars and Cupid. In this work, van der Borcht engages with a rich tradition of printmaking, where skill lies in controlling the burin or etching needle to translate an image into a repeatable form. The labor-intensive nature of intaglio speaks to a time when art production relied heavily on the artist's manual skill and craftsmanship, blurring the lines between artistry, craft, and the modes of production.