Hercules wreekt zich op de Boreaden 1678

Jean Pesne made this print, *Hercules wreekt zich op de Boreaden*, sometime in the 17th century. Engraving involves the skillful use of specialized tools to incise lines into a metal plate, in this case most likely copper. The depth and density of these lines determine the amount of ink held, and thus the darkness of the printed line. It's a labor-intensive, indirect process—the image gradually emerges through skilled, physical work. Prints like this one allowed stories and images to circulate widely. Here we see Hercules, bow drawn, taking aim. His power is made evident by the sharp, clean lines of the engraving. Consider the physical effort involved in creating such detail, a kind of labor that mirrors Hercules' own feats. This wasn't just about aesthetics. The print also speaks to the social context of art production at the time. It challenges our assumptions about originality and value, by emphasizing the labor involved, and pointing to the vital role of reproduction in disseminating cultural narratives.