Portret van kardinaal Giovanni Amadeus Rota 1634 - 1649

This print depicts Cardinal Giovanni Amadeus Rota, and was made by Giovanni Battista Coriolano in the 17th century. It's an engraving, meaning that the image was incised into a metal plate, probably copper, with a tool called a burin. The plate would then be inked, and the surface wiped clean, leaving ink only in the incised lines. Paper is then pressed against the plate to transfer the image. Look closely and you can see the characteristic crisp lines that define the cardinal's features and garments. The background is created by the technique of hatching or tiny, closely spaced lines. Engraving like this was a highly skilled, labor-intensive process. It demanded precision, control, and years of training. The final print would have been relatively precious, circulated among a select audience as both a work of art, and a testament to the engraver's virtuosity. The very act of looking closely reveals the intricate dance between material, process, and human skill. It prompts us to think about the value of skilled labor in the age of mechanical reproduction.