Saint Anthony of Padua c. 1640s

Giulio Carpioni made this print of Saint Anthony of Padua using etching, a printmaking technique, sometime in the 17th century. The process involves biting an image into a metal plate with acid. The plate is then inked and printed. Look closely, and you can see how the artist used line to create light, shadow, and texture, from the Saint's coarse robe to the billowing clouds in the sky. The incisive marks feel energetic and direct. But etching is also an indirect process, one which allows for multiple reproductions of an image. This speaks to the cultural role of prints in disseminating ideas and images widely. The labor is intensive, but the effects are multiplied. This print, like others of its era, stands at the intersection of artistic expression, technical skill, and the burgeoning world of mass communication. It reminds us that even seemingly unique works of art are often deeply embedded in social and economic systems.