Sultane de Transilvanie, plate 23 from Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque 1748

Joseph Marie Vien made this print, *Sultane de Transilvanie*, as part of a series called *Caravanne du Sultan à la Mecque*. It's a work made with the incisive, deliberate process of etching. The fine, delicate lines are achieved by drawing into a waxy ground on a metal plate, which is then exposed to acid. The acid bites away the exposed metal, leaving behind incised lines that hold ink. This plate is then pressed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see a slight blurring around the lines. This effect results from the pressure of the printing press, subtly softening the image. The process allowed for multiple impressions, making it a powerful tool for disseminating images and ideas. Prints like these offered a glimpse into distant lands, fueling the European fascination with the exotic, feeding into colonial fantasies and trade. Thinking about the printmaking process and the subject of the image, we can understand the work as both a product and a reflection of cultural exchange. It asks us to consider not only what is depicted, but also how and why it was made.