One Man Striking Another 1514 - 1536

Agostino Veneziano made this print, "One Man Striking Another," in the first half of the 16th century, using engraving. Engraving is an intaglio process, meaning that the image is incised into a metal plate. Ink is then applied to the entire plate, and then wiped away from the surface, leaving ink only in the incised lines. When the plate is pressed against paper, the image is transferred. The lines themselves, so crucial to the overall effect, are not freely drawn, but rather the result of careful work with a tool called a burin. The quality of the burin’s bite into the copperplate determined the image’s final appearance. The process demands patience, discipline, and a mastery of the burin to create varied line weights and intricate details. Engraving was essential for disseminating images widely in Renaissance Europe, reflecting both artistic skill and the demands of a growing print market. Looking at this print, we can appreciate how technique and process shape its very meaning, challenging any separation of artistic intention and labor.