Mercure c. 17th century

This print of Mercury was made by Stefano della Bella sometime in the 17th century, using etching on paper. The etched line is the key to this image. Della Bella would have used a sharp needle to draw through a waxy ground applied to a copper plate. When the plate was immersed in acid, the drawn lines were bitten, creating grooves. Ink was then applied, the surface wiped clean, and the image printed under great pressure. The resulting image shows the Roman god with winged sandals, and a caduceus. Note the relatively free handling of the line, particularly in the landscape setting. The quick, light touch is a testament to della Bella's mastery of the etching process. Ultimately, what we're seeing here is a triumph of reproducible media. Etchings like this one were relatively quick and easy to produce, and could be circulated widely. So while this may be a small, unassuming image, it’s deeply connected to the rise of print culture, and the rapid dissemination of images in early modern Europe.