The Virgin with the Christ Child and the young Saint John the Baptist holding a bird at right, an oval composition, after Reni 1625 - 1680

Lorenzo Loli made this print of the Virgin and Child after a painting by Guido Reni. It is made with etching, a printmaking technique that was very popular in the 17th century. The material is a humble sheet of paper, but what is really interesting is how the image got onto the surface. First, a metal plate would have been coated with a waxy substance, and the design scratched into it with a needle. Then, acid would have been applied, biting into the metal where it was exposed. This process allowed for detailed lines and tonal variations, seen here in the Virgin's face and flowing robes. Etching emerged alongside the rise of a print market. These images were relatively inexpensive and circulated widely, allowing artists like Loli to disseminate their work and interpretations of celebrated paintings such as Reni's, reaching a broad audience beyond the elite circles of art patronage. That’s part of what makes this print so compelling: it puts the making of art within reach.