Cleopatra 1720

Johann Jakob Frey the Elder created this print of Cleopatra using etching and engraving techniques. These processes involve incising lines into a metal plate, applying ink, and then transferring the image onto paper. Look closely, and you'll see that the quality of the lines determines the image's detail and texture. The hatching and cross-hatching create a sense of depth and volume, bringing Cleopatra and her surroundings to life. Prints like this one were part of a much wider visual culture. They allowed images to be disseminated widely and cheaply, and circulated throughout society, but they also involved specialized labor and techniques, bridging the gap between craft production and emerging industrial processes. The making of this print thus reflects a complex relationship between artistic skill, technological innovation, and the economics of image production. It reminds us that even seemingly straightforward images are the product of skilled labor, and fit into a broader history of creative practice.