A young woman seated on a donkey wearing a hat with a feather riding towards the right, two men follow to left, a large tree above to right, from 'Four large landscapes' (Quatre grands paysages en hauteur) 1652 - 1657

This print, now at the Met, was made by Stefano della Bella in the 17th century. It comes from a set of four landscapes and was created using etching, a printmaking technique that relies on acid to bite into a metal plate. What's fascinating here is how the landscape itself becomes a product of labor. The fine lines and intricate details of the foliage and figures are a direct result of Bella's skillful manipulation of materials and chemical processes. Look at the way he uses hatching and cross-hatching to create depth and texture. The figures seem small against the landscape, yet their presence highlights a connection to the land, and a subtle commentary on social hierarchy. A woman is seated on a donkey, with two men following on foot; labor is subtly, but visibly, present in this composition. Paying attention to the materials and processes employed by artists like Bella helps us appreciate the social and cultural contexts that shape artistic production.