The Judgement of Paris(?) 1740 - 1802

Giuseppe Canale made this print, "The Judgement of Paris(?)," sometime in the late 18th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the image began as lines scratched into a wax ground on a metal plate, which was then bathed in acid. This eats away the exposed metal, allowing for the plate to hold ink, and then be printed. Look closely, and you'll see how the artist has built up tone through carefully placed parallel lines. This was a very physical process, requiring immense skill and patience to achieve the light and airy quality. This print simulates the effect of a drawing, yet multiplies its imagery through mechanical means. Prints like this were essential to the circulation of images and ideas in the 1700s. Etching was a skilled trade, but it also served the world of commerce. This image may reference classical antiquity, but it was made in a world increasingly driven by industrial production and consumption.