Drie gratiën 1542

Enea Vico made this print, "The Three Graces," using an etching technique. It's a print, so the labor is in the skilled, precise cutting of lines into a metal plate, which is then inked and transferred to paper. The etching is a study in line and shadow; see how Vico uses cross-hatching to give depth to the figures and the rocky landscape behind them. The even, consistent texture suggests a controlled, methodical process. This wasn't about spontaneous expression, but about disciplined workmanship. But it is also about the economics of artmaking. Prints like this were relatively affordable, making art accessible to a wider audience, beyond the wealthy elite who could commission paintings or sculptures. Vico was participating in an expanding market, where skilled craftsmanship could be a path to economic independence. So, when you look at this print, consider the labor involved, and how that labor connected to the wider world of commerce and consumption. It’s a reminder that art doesn't just appear; it's made.