Venus en Amor 1566

Niccolo Nelli made this print, Venus en Amor, using the intaglio process. Here, lines are incised into a metal plate, traditionally copper, using a tool called a burin or a needle for etching. These lines hold the ink, and when pressed onto paper, they create the image. The texture of the print depends on how deeply the lines are cut and how much ink they hold. This painstaking process allows for fine detail and shading, evident in the delicate rendering of Venus and Amor. Printmaking like this in the 16th and 17th century wasn't just art, it was also a business. Skilled artisans were needed, and the prints were commodities, traded and sold widely. Nelli’s print is not just a pretty picture, it is an artifact of early capitalist culture, where art and commerce were closely intertwined. So, next time you look at a print, consider not only the image but also the labor and market forces behind its creation. It changes how you see it, doesn't it?