Roxane 1620 - 1664

Stefano della Bella made this print, Roxane, using etching, sometime in the 17th century. It is an intimate artwork, printed on paper in ink, where the artist carefully layered lines to define forms. Consider the labor involved in producing such a delicate image. The artist would have coated a metal plate with wax, then carefully scratched away the design. After submerging the plate in acid, the exposed metal would be eaten away, leaving behind an incised image. Ink would then be applied, and the plate pressed onto paper. The resulting print could then be sold and distributed. In Bella’s time, printmaking was a crucial means of circulating images and ideas. The commercial possibilities of the medium allowed artists to reach a wider audience. While Roxane depicts an image of nobility, the etching process itself reflects a democratization of art production. Etching creates a fascinating intersection of craft, commerce, and culture. It challenges traditional distinctions between fine art and craft, and invites us to consider the social context of the artwork.