The Italian military hero Giuseppe Garibaldi on Mazzini boat 

This monochrome print by Giuseppe Barberis depicts the Italian military hero Giuseppe Garibaldi on the Mazzini boat. The printmaking process, most likely wood engraving, plays a crucial role in the artwork's appearance and social context. The linear marks create texture and volume, and would allow for the relatively quick reproduction of images for mass consumption. This was a popular technique for circulating political messages, and other visual stories, in nineteenth-century Europe. Wood engraving required significant skill in carving the image into a block of wood, often boxwood, which would then be inked and printed. The labor-intensive process is a testimony to the cultural value placed on spreading Garibaldi's heroic image, intertwining artistry with the machinery of propaganda. By employing these methods, Barberis’ work transcends the boundaries between fine art and the graphic arts, revealing the intricate connection between labor, politics, and visual culture.