Plate 8: Ulysses receiving the winds in a leather bag from Aeolus 1756

Bartolomeo Crivellari made this print, Plate 8: Ulysses receiving the winds in a leather bag from Aeolus, sometime in the 1700s using etching and engraving. These processes involve working into a metal plate to create an image which is then inked and printed. Consider the level of skill required to make this print, from the initial design to the physical labor of cutting into the metal. The controlled lines of the engraving create a range of tones, from the deepest shadows to the lightest highlights. We see the scene from Homer's Odyssey, where Ulysses receives the winds from Aeolus, king of the winds, rendered in careful detail using these techniques. Prints like this were often made in multiples, allowing for wider distribution of images and ideas. They democratized art, making it accessible to a broader audience beyond the wealthy elite. The making and viewing of such prints were crucial for spreading cultural narratives like that of Ulysses, highlighting how material processes intersect with cultural production and distribution.