Onderboezem, schacht gedecoreerd met Neptunus en Amphitrite before 1643

This print, made by Abraham Bosse, shows a design for a fireplace decorated with Neptune and Amphitrite. Bosse was a master of the etching technique. He used a metal plate covered with wax, drew his design with a needle to expose the metal, and then bathed the plate in acid, which bit into the exposed lines. The image is highly linear, every detail carefully delineated. The fireplace itself is conceived as a stack of geometric forms, articulated with sculpted figures and elaborate decoration. The central panel shows Neptune, god of the sea, with his wife Amphitrite, riding on a dolphin. It’s a scene of great luxury and abundance. The print would have been circulated among wealthy patrons, hoping to impress with their refined taste and command of classical themes. The image speaks to the culture of consumption and display that was emerging in early modern Europe. It also makes clear that even the most functional objects could be elevated to the level of high art. It’s important to consider the social context in which the image was made, and the ways in which it reflects the values of the time.