Cephalus and Procris

Executed as an etching on laid paper later mounted on wove paper, the work relies on delicate, intersecting lines to model foliage, water, and architectural forms. Cock’s handling of line creates atmospheric depth: foreground elements are rendered with crisp detail, while trees and buildings recede into softer, less defined tones, enhancing the sense of distance.

The print was produced by Hieronymus Cock, a prominent Flemish artist and publisher who operated one of the era’s most prolific print workshops. Cock’s press issued more than a thousand prints, helping to standardize the commercial production of images across Europe. This particular sheet reflects his dual role as creator and disseminator.

During the mid‑sixteenth century, the demand for mythological subjects grew among educated collectors, and printmakers like Cock responded by adapting classical narratives to the portable, affordable medium of etching. The work exemplifies the period’s blend of humanist scholarship and emerging print technology, which together broadened access to visual storytelling.