Minerva tronend boven een wapenschild 17th century

Gerard de Lairesse created this print, "Minerva Enthroned Above a Coat of Arms," using etching techniques. The stark contrast of the black lines against the white paper is achieved by coating a metal plate with wax, scratching the design through it, and then bathing the plate in acid, which bites into the exposed metal. The plate is then inked and pressed onto paper, transferring the image. Look closely and you can see that the medium allows for incredible detail, capturing the texture of Minerva’s robes, the gleam of the weaponry, and the intricate design of the coat of arms. But what does the process tell us? Etching allowed for relatively quick reproduction, making images more accessible. In this case, a potent combination: a classical allegory that serves to ennoble a specific lineage. The skilled labor is clear, but so too is the social function of the print. By emphasizing the materials and the making, we see how the print operates within a broader economy of art and power.