Three Men Standing 1634

Stefano della Bella made this print, Three Men Standing, using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to ‘bite’ lines into a metal plate. It’s a cousin of engraving, but allows for a more flowing, less deliberate line. Here, the rapid, sketchy quality of the etched line perfectly captures the bustling activity of a port. Look closely and you’ll see ships in drydock, workmen gathered around a fire. The artist probably made the drawing on site, then translated it to the copper plate back in his studio. This brings us to a crucial point: the print is not just a picture, but also evidence of a process involving multiple steps, tools, and skill sets. Consider the labor required to build and maintain the ships, and then the labor of the artist translating that scene to the copper plate. This print, like all artworks, carries a record of its making, and of the wider world of work.