Plate 12: a cow drinking from a stone trough, other cows to left in background, from 'Diversi capricci' 1639 - 1649

Stefano della Bella created this print, “Plate 12: a cow drinking from a stone trough,” using etching. Immediately, the contrasting textures grab our attention; the rough, dense foliage against the smooth, rounded form of the cow. Della Bella’s technique here is fascinating. Look at how he uses varied line weights and densities to define form and space. The cow is solid and present, created with many short, deliberate lines. This contrasts with the background, sketched with a lighter touch. See how the composition leads your eye? The drinking cow is central, and other cows in the background create depth. This print is part of a series called 'Diversi capricci', or 'Various Caprices'. The title suggests a playful, imaginative approach. The artist invites us to see the pastoral scene not just as a depiction, but as a stage for visual exploration. It shows how the artist can transform the mundane into something visually stimulating. Della Bella uses familiar pastoral scenes to explore the nature of representation itself.