Hercules and Cacus c. 1505 - 1520

This print, Hercules and Cacus, was made anonymously using the intaglio process. This involves incising an image into a metal plate, applying ink so it fills the recessed lines, and then using a press to transfer the ink to paper. Look closely and you can see the dense network of etched lines that create the scene, building up tone and texture. The cross-hatching, a technique where lines intersect, adds depth and shadow to the figures of Hercules and Cacus. The linear quality of the etching emphasizes the drama of the scene, giving it an energetic and dynamic feel. Intaglio prints like this one allowed for the wide distribution of images. The labor-intensive work of etching was essentially outsourced: the artist created the design, and the printer reproduced it on a large scale. This speaks to the commodification of images in this period, a precursor to our own age of mass media. The story of Hercules, once unique, became a repeatable, distributable asset.