Bust of a Soldier in Profile, from 'Various heads and figures' (Diverses tétes et figures) 1650

This is Stefano della Bella’s ‘Bust of a Soldier in Profile’ an etching, printed on paper, sometime in the mid-17th century. Etching is an indirect method of printing. The artist covers a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then draws through it with a pointed needle. The plate is then immersed in acid, which bites into the metal where exposed. This painstaking process allows for incredible detail. Look closely at the image: the plate marks, the fine lines that capture the soldier’s furrowed brow and the burnishing marks – the traces of the artist’s hand that give the image its texture and depth. This reveals not just the image, but also the labor involved in its production, and invites us to consider the social conditions of its making. The soldier’s likeness is multiplied, democratized through the printmaking process. Considering this etching, it reminds us that even the most seemingly straightforward images are the result of complex material processes and social relationships.