Diana en Pan 1660 - 1680

Marcantonio Bellavia made this small print, Diana en Pan, sometime in the 17th century. It’s an etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to bite lines into a metal plate. The image is then inked and printed, leaving behind the crisp lines we see here. The process is significant. Printmaking allowed for the wide distribution of images, democratizing art in a way never before possible. Instead of being unique objects made of precious material for a wealthy patron, images could be reproduced and distributed far and wide. Notice the way the lines describe the musculature of Pan, and the drapery of Diana. This was all achieved through carefully controlled actions. Bellavia would have used various tools to achieve light and dark effects, and different depths of the lines. The story of Diana and Pan gains new dimension when we consider the print’s own story. It is a story of accessibility and the changing role of the artist in a world increasingly shaped by commerce and wider consumption.