Portaalvormige muurdecoratie met hermen, mascarons en bovenaan een borstbeeld 1593 - 1595

This elaborate wall decoration was etched by Wendel Dietterlin around 1600, using a process that involves biting into a metal plate with acid. Look closely, and you’ll see that the effect is very different than a pen-and-ink drawing. Here, Dietterlin renders a portal-like structure teeming with classical motifs: herms, mascarons, and a bust at the very top. But the real subject is architectural fantasy. The artist was deeply involved in the aesthetics of the Northern Renaissance, when the rediscovery of classical forms led to extremely elaborate, imaginative designs. Etching was the perfect medium for this kind of work. The artist could create tremendous detail, and then print multiple copies. In that sense, Dietterlin was participating in an early modern media culture, where ornament became increasingly democratized through printmaking. His designs could circulate far beyond the circles of elite patronage. So, next time you see a print, remember that it's not just an image, but a testament to the power of repeatable media.