Moses defending the daughters of Jethro 1732 - 1750

Pietro Monaco made this print, "Moses defending the daughters of Jethro," sometime in the 1700s. It’s an etching, meaning it was made by incising lines into a metal plate, inking it, and pressing it onto paper. Etchings like this were a crucial part of the art world at this time. They were relatively cheap to produce, yet could mimic the look of a drawing. So, they were a great way for artists to circulate their ideas, and for collectors to build up a portfolio of images. The real skill was in the hand of the etcher, who had to be precise in their mark-making to create tonal variation, and to suggest depth and texture. Look closely, and you’ll see how Monaco used a variety of lines and cross-hatching to create a sense of drama. Prints like this were essential to the development of a wider visual culture. They brought art to a broader public, and helped to shape taste and fashion. Recognizing the labor and context in which these objects were made is essential to understanding their full meaning.