Portret van Berenice della Ciaia 1658 - 1679

This is a portrait of Berenice della Ciaia, made by Giuseppe Maria Testana in the late 17th century, and it’s an engraving. This means the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, using a tool called a burin. Consider the kind of labor involved. The artist would have needed not only skill as a draughtsman, but also a deep understanding of metallurgy and the printing process. The fine lines that define Berenice’s features, her clothing, and the surrounding foliage required intense concentration and careful execution. Engravings like this were often made in multiples, allowing for the widespread distribution of images. This speaks to the rise of a print culture in the early modern period, where knowledge and likenesses could be disseminated more easily than ever before. It also represents a sophisticated commercial system, with specialized workshops producing and selling these images. So, next time you look at an engraving, remember that it’s not just a picture, it’s a product of skilled labor, technological innovation, and a changing social landscape.