Beleg van Piombino 1650

Stefano della Bella made this print, Beleg van Piombino, using etching, a printmaking technique that dates back to the early 16th century. The process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance, and then drawing through this coating with a sharp needle. When the plate is immersed in acid, the exposed lines are eaten away, creating grooves that hold ink. In this particular print, the fineness of the etched lines gives a sense of precision, appropriate for the subject matter: a military engagement. Della Bella used the technique to map out every detail of the siege, emphasizing the strategic and logistical work of warfare. Consider the many hands involved. From the miners extracting metal, to the specialists preparing the etching ground and acid, to the press operators who transferred the image to paper, labor is embedded at every stage of production. This print speaks to the collective effort that underlies both art and war.