Asterion, from the series 'Vessels of the Argonauts' for the wedding celebration of Cosimo de' Medici in Florence, 1608

Remigio Cantagallina created this etching, Asterion, in Florence in 1608, as part of a series for Cosimo de’ Medici’s wedding celebration. The printmaking process is itself significant. An image is incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. This allows for the easy reproduction of images, essential for circulating propaganda about the Medici family and their power. Look closely, and you can see the artist's hand in the myriad tiny etched lines. These render the scene, of a horse-drawn boat gliding on a cloud, complete with mythological figures and armed soldiers. Consider too, the economic context. Printmaking was a commercial enterprise, reliant on skilled labor and a market for its products. The very act of creating this artwork was thus embedded in the social and economic fabric of its time. By understanding the materials, making, and historical context, we recognize that this print is not just a decorative image, but a product of skilled labor, economic forces, and political ambition.