Portrait Bust of a Woman with a Large Collar, from Perfect School to Learn How to Draw the Entire Human Body (English translation) n.d.

Luca Ciamberlano made this print of a woman with a large collar using etching, sometime in the early 17th century. Etching is a demanding process. A metal plate is covered with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, and then the artist scratches an image into that surface, exposing the metal underneath. The plate is then bathed in acid, which bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These are then filled with ink, and the plate is pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see how Ciamberlano used line and texture to create the effect of light and shadow, and the contrasting textures of skin, hair, and fabric. The stiffness of the collar stands in contrast to the woman’s soft features, brought out by the etcher’s meticulous work. While Ciamberlano’s print seems like a straightforward, representational image, it required tremendous labor, skill, and material understanding. It is a reminder that even seemingly simple works of art are the result of complex processes, social contexts, and traditions of making.