Stekelvarken before 1650

This is Antonio Tempesta’s Stekelvarken, made sometime between the 16th and 17th century with engraving techniques. Tempesta used a burin to carve lines into a copper plate, creating this detailed image of a porcupine. Think of the skill and time required to produce such fine detail and the cross-hatching that builds up the animal's form. This wasn't just about artistic vision, but also a mastery of craft. The lines give the animal's quills a palpable sense of texture and volume. The printmaking process allowed for the image to be reproduced and disseminated widely; not just an artwork but also a commodity that was part of the developing print culture of the period. Looking closely at the material and the labor that went into it, helps us appreciate this image, and recognize that the story of art is really a story of making.