Moses defending the daughters of Jethro

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.