Fragment of Nativity Scene with Music-Making Angels on Clouds Above 1600 - 1700

This print of a nativity scene with music-making angels on clouds was made anonymously, using the technique of etching. The image is defined by incised lines, bitten into a metal plate by acid, then printed. Etching is often thought of as a reproductive medium, used to disseminate images to a broad public. The character of the etched line is different than that achieved by direct engraving, which requires intense hand-strength. The relatively free, informal quality of this print, with its loose cross-hatching, speaks to the comparative ease with which etching allows the artist to work. Look closely at the angel’s faces, full of character. These details are all the more impressive, considering the small scale and the relatively unrefined means of production. The resulting images, though multiplied, maintain an artistic value. That is one reason why prints are still collected and admired today. The world of craft and fine art is never too far apart.