The Virgin Adoring the Infant Jesus 1655

Bartolomeo Biscaino made this print, *The Virgin Adoring the Infant Jesus*, using etching, a printmaking technique that involves biting lines into a metal plate with acid. The image's power lies in Biscaino's manipulation of line and tone. Look at the variation in the marks, from the dense hatching that creates shadow, to the delicate lines describing the figures' faces. The process relies on the control of time, the longer the plate is exposed to acid, the deeper and darker the line. The artist’s hand guides this whole process. Prints like this were made in multiples, they democratized images, making them accessible to a wider audience. This was essential in spreading new ideas and aesthetics, but remember, each print represents the artist's labor, skill, and time. By considering the making, we understand the print not just as an image, but as a testament to human creativity, ingenuity, and the changing landscape of art production.