German and Spanish Forts Near Bohemia Were Taken with Great Force Near Bohemia, from L'Idea di un Principe ed Eroe Cristiano in Francesco I d'Este, di Modena e Reggio Duca VIII [...] 1659

This print, "German and Spanish Forts Near Bohemia Were Taken with Great Force Near Bohemia," was made by Bartolomeo Fenice. It’s an etching, meaning that the artist would have covered a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawn into it with a needle, and then bathed the plate in acid. The acid bites away at the exposed metal, creating an image that can then be inked and printed. The effect of the etching process is an image composed of tiny lines, giving a great deal of detail with a limited tonal range. It is especially effective at capturing the chaos and violence of warfare, the plumes of smoke and the figures of soldiers. Prints like this one were important for circulating information, effectively acting like a form of early photojournalism. Of course, they also served a propagandistic function, shaping public opinion about military campaigns. Looking closely at the way they are made gives us insight into the work involved in war, both on and off the battlefield. It brings an awareness to the amount of human labor and the social context that influences their meaning.