Jupiter Love Shakes 

Giovanni Battista Piranesi created this etching, "Jupiter Love Shakes," using metal plates and acid. This was a printmaking process common in the 18th century, where lines are bitten into a metal plate using acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The stark lines that define Jupiter and his companion reveal Piranesi's mastery. The etching process allows for incredible detail, as seen in the texture of Jupiter’s beard and the delicate wings of the figure beside him. The cloudscape is created through careful manipulation of line weight, adding depth to the composition. The material and process chosen here reflect a moment when printmaking was essential for disseminating images widely. Etchings like this were luxury goods, but they also functioned as a kind of proto-photography, spreading visual culture and classical motifs across Europe. They relied on skilled labor, from the artist himself to the printers who would have produced multiple impressions. It is a reminder that even seemingly simple works on paper are the result of significant artistic effort and a complex network of production.