Jongen met trompet 1710 - 1783

"Jongen met trompet" was made by Francesco Polanzani, most likely in Venice, using an etching technique. The image has been built up from thousands of tiny lines incised into a metal plate, which was then inked and printed. The magic of etching lies in its capacity to capture fine detail and texture; look closely, and you'll see how Polanzani has rendered the boy's fur collar, the folds of his garment, and the subtle gradations of light across his face. The entire image has a velvety feel. It is a labor-intensive process, requiring skilled hands to execute. Each line had to be carefully considered and precisely placed. Prints like this one were often produced in multiples, making art more accessible to a wider audience. Polanzani was part of a much larger economy of image production, a system which provided opportunities for artists but also relied on their labor to fuel the market for affordable art. Recognizing the skill, work, and cultural context embedded in the work invites us to consider the full depth and reach of art history.