Badende nimfen 1605

Ugo da Carpi made this print, *Badende nimfen*, sometime in the early 16th century, using a woodcut technique. Rather than the more common approach of engraving lines onto a metal plate, woodcut involves carefully carving away areas to leave a raised design. The striking thing about this particular print is that it’s made using several blocks, each inked with a different tone. Carpi was one of the first artists to experiment with this process, known as chiaroscuro, meaning ‘light-dark’ in Italian. This allowed for a much more subtle range of shading than could be achieved with a single block. You can see how the careful layering of tones gives the figures a real sense of depth and volume, almost like a drawing. The level of skill required to align multiple blocks perfectly for each print was considerable, demanding precision and patience. In a way, this print bridges the gap between the unique artwork and the mass-produced image, reminding us that even in the age of mechanical reproduction, the hand of the artist remains crucial.