Leger vecht tegen een reuzenslang 1605

Antonio Tempesta made this print, "Leger vecht tegen een reuzenslang," likely in the late 16th or early 17th century, through the process of etching. The material reality of an etching is that it is produced from a metal plate, probably copper in this case. The artist would have coated the plate with a waxy, acid-resistant ground, then scratched an image into that ground with a sharp needle, exposing the metal beneath. Then the plate was submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed lines, creating grooves. These grooves would then hold ink, which could be transferred to paper under high pressure, thereby creating a print. In this intricate print, we can see the battle between soldiers and the serpent. Note the incredible density of fine lines. The sharpness and precision achieved through etching would have allowed Tempesta to capture a high level of detail, a technical skill, but also a very physical one. This print's value lies not only in its aesthetic qualities, but also in the labor and technical skill required for its creation, blurring the boundaries between craft and fine art.