Shepherds with their flock 1645 - 1660

Giovanni Benedetto Castiglione, also known as Il Grechetto, made this print, Shepherds with their flock, using etching. The magic of etching lies in its indirect approach. The artist coats a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws through it with a needle to expose the metal. Immersing the plate in acid bites away at these exposed lines, creating grooves. Ink is then applied to the plate, filling only the etched lines, and the surface is wiped clean. Finally, the plate is pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Castiglione uses this indirect method to achieve an incredible richness of texture, and a vibrant scene of pastoral life. Consider the relationship between the traditional techniques of etching and the subject of this work. Does the depiction of labor in a pastoral scene, when printed, change our understanding of the work involved? By embracing both the skill of the artist and the labor of the shepherd, Castiglione reminds us that art-making is also a form of work.