Mars, Venus and Cupid 1530

Lucas van Leyden made this engraving, Mars, Venus and Cupid, around 1530 using the exacting technique of carving lines into a metal plate, inking it, and then pressing it onto paper. The material properties of the metal directly influence the image. The artist's skill lies in the precise control of the burin, the tool used to incise the lines. Notice how the density and direction of these lines create shading and volume, bringing the mythological figures to life. The act of engraving is labor-intensive, demanding hours of meticulous work to achieve such detail. The resulting prints were relatively inexpensive to produce, which allowed for the wider distribution of images and ideas in the 16th century, beyond the elite. Consider that the aesthetic value of an engraving depends on the mastery of a craft and the possibilities offered by its materials.