Cardinal Giovanni Carlo dei Medici before 1691

This print of Cardinal Giovanni Carlo dei Medici was made by Adriaen Haelwegh, likely in the mid-17th century. It’s an etching, meaning that the image was created by drawing through a waxy ground on a metal plate, then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed metal, creating lines that hold ink, and the plate is then printed onto paper. Look closely and you can see the characteristic qualities of this process. The lines are crisp and precise, allowing for a high level of detail in the Cardinal’s face and clothing. The texture of the paper itself also contributes to the overall effect, giving the print a slightly rough, tactile quality. Prints like this were relatively inexpensive to produce, so this image could reach a wide audience, helping to consolidate the power and image of its subject. The making of this image, therefore, sits at the intersection of artistic skill, technological innovation, and social power. It reminds us that even seemingly simple images are the result of complex social and economic forces.