Plate 4: Moses Ordering the Israelites to Attack the Ethiopians, from 'The Battles of the Old Testament' 1585 - 1615

Antonio Tempesta made this print, 'Plate 4: Moses Ordering the Israelites to Attack the Ethiopians', using etching and engraving techniques. These are both painstaking, indirect processes that rely on acid to bite lines into a metal plate. The linear intricacy we see here speaks to Tempesta’s skill in manipulating these methods. Consider how this image was produced. It is not a painting made for a wealthy patron, but a print, which could be widely disseminated. Here, the sharp lines create a sense of drama, visualizing the chaos of battle. But this print is not just about aesthetics; it reflects the rise of printmaking as a crucial medium for spreading ideas and stories in early modern Europe, reaching audiences far beyond the elite. The act of reproducing images like these democratized art, making it accessible in ways previously unimaginable. So, next time you look at a print, remember, it’s not just an image. It’s also a testament to the power of making and its role in shaping our understanding of the world.