Drie vrouwen vallen man aan 1747 - 1812

Pellegrino dal Colle made this print, "Three Women Attacking a Man," around the turn of the 19th century, using etching or engraving, processes associated with reproducibility. Dal Colle’s mastery of these techniques is immediately apparent. The stark contrast, and use of hatching, cross-hatching, and stippling to suggest volume and shading, demonstrate remarkable skill. Because these prints would have been created by applying acid to a metal plate, the composition is built up from tiny marks, each carefully considered. You can see this most clearly in the background, where each individual brick is delineated with the use of light strokes. Prints like this served a crucial social purpose: they made images and ideas available to a wider audience. The text underneath the image hints at a complex story of love, deceit, and violence. The intense labor involved in creating the printing plate is thus multiplied, as each impression of the print carries its message further afield. Dal Colle’s printmaking demonstrates that, while the techniques of reproduction can sometimes seem commonplace, they are in fact born of exceptional craftsmanship.