Marcus de evangelist c. 1601 - 1634

Giovanni Battista Pasqualini created this engraving of Marcus the Evangelist in the 17th century. The image is realized through etching, a printmaking process involving coating a metal plate with wax, scratching an image into the wax, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. This creates lines that hold ink, allowing the image to be printed. Look closely at the density of lines, and the subtle gradations of tone that Pasqualini achieved through varying the etching technique. The image is built up by lines that create the illusion of three-dimensionality. The careful control of line weight conveys depth and texture. Printmaking, like many crafts, sits at an interesting intersection with industrialization, because it allows for the mass production and distribution of imagery. This print gives us an opportunity to reflect on the status of reproduced imagery in society at the time. The image demonstrates the importance of materials, making and context in understanding the full meaning of an artwork.