Portret van dichter en historicus Angelo di Costanzo 1810 - 1900

This is a print of Angelo di Costanzo, the poet and historian, made in the 19th century by Caterina Piotti-Pirola. It's an engraving, meaning the image was incised into a metal plate, inked, and then printed onto paper. Look closely, and you can see the subtle gradations of tone, achieved through careful hatching and cross-hatching. The artist would have used specialized tools to create these precise lines, demonstrating a high level of skill. Engraving was a reproductive technique, allowing images to be disseminated widely. Prints like these were part of a booming visual culture, fueled by new technologies and a growing middle class eager for access to art and information. The very act of reproducing Costanzo's image speaks to the power of printmaking in shaping historical memory, giving the poet a kind of immortality. The print straddles the line between craft and art, reminding us that these categories are not always so distinct.