Regenboog als teken des verbonds 1626

Francesco Villamena created this print, Regenboog als teken des verbonds, using an engraving process. It's a work on paper, but think about what it takes to get the image there. The artist would have used a tool called a burin to manually cut lines into a metal plate. These incisions hold ink, which is then transferred to the paper under great pressure. The fineness of the lines, and the cross-hatching, give the scene depth and shadow. Engraving like this demands precision and patience. There are no shortcuts. Each line is a deliberate act, requiring time and expertise. In the 17th century, prints like this were a crucial means of disseminating images and ideas, a form of mass communication before photography. Consider the labour involved, not only in the artist's studio, but also in the wider systems of production and distribution that made this image available. It reminds us that even seemingly simple artworks have complex material histories and social lives.