Plate 21: Envoys from Cologne Bring Presents to Civilis, from The War of the Romans Against the Batavians (Romanorvm et Batavorvm societas) 1611 - 1612

Antonio Tempesta created this print around 1600, using the etching technique. A metal plate would have been covered with a waxy ground, and the artist scratched lines through it. The plate was then bathed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating recessed lines that hold ink. Here, Tempesta used the etching process to convey a scene of diplomacy, as envoys from Cologne bring presents to Civilis, a leader of the Batavian rebellion against Roman rule. What interests me most is the way the printmaking medium itself speaks to social and political dynamics. Consider the labor involved. The artist carefully incised the image, line by line. This painstaking process mirrors the slow, deliberate negotiations depicted, while the multiplication of the image through printing reflects the dissemination of power and influence. Ultimately, this print invites us to consider how artistic techniques can not only depict historical events but also embody the very social and political forces at play.