print, engraving
portrait
old engraving style
11_renaissance
history-painting
italian-renaissance
engraving
Dimensions: height 192 mm, width 135 mm, height 159 mm, width 129 mm, height 168 mm, width 131 mm, height 169 mm, width 138 mm, height 541 mm, width 410 mm
Copyright: Rijks Museum: Open Domain
This print, titled "Artemisia, Dido, Pietro Aretino," was made by an anonymous artist. The technique here is etching, where lines are incised into a metal plate with acid, then inked and pressed onto paper. The varying line weights create depth and shadow in the image. The image is divided into four distinct scenes. This arrangement suggests the print functioned as a kind of sampler, showcasing the etcher's skill in rendering different subjects. Consider the labor involved: the preparation of the plate, the careful drawing and biting of the lines, and the printing itself. This was skilled work, situated between artistic expression and commercial reproduction. Prints like this circulated widely, democratizing access to imagery. The choice of subject matter speaks to the interests of the time: classical subjects like Artemisia and Dido alongside portraits of contemporary figures. This print demonstrates how printmaking served as a crucial engine in the distribution of ideas, images, and knowledge. It challenges the traditional art historical hierarchy, reminding us of the value of objects made through skilled handcraft.
Comments
In order to waste as little paper as possible, multiple copper plates were often printed on a single sheet. The sheets were then cut and the prints sold individually. Zobel must have acquired this sheet with four different small prints when the impression had just been pulled from the press, for he included it, uncut, in his album.
Join the conversation
Join millions of artists and users on Artera today and experience the ultimate creative platform.
CollectMore like this
