Marcus Valerius, from "The Roman Heroes" 1586

This engraving of Marcus Valerius, from "The Roman Heroes," was made by Hendrick Goltzius around 1590, using a technique called burin engraving. Engraving is a printmaking process, where the artist uses a tool to carve an image directly onto a metal plate, in this case, probably copper. The plate is then inked, and the ink is caught in the incised lines. When pressed onto paper, it creates a reverse image. Look closely, and you can see the incredible level of detail. The muscularity of Valerius, the texture of his armor, the dramatic sky – all achieved by the artist's skillful manipulation of line. Engraving like this demanded precision and control, reflecting the premium placed on virtuoso skill during this period. The medium lends the work a formality and permanence perfectly suited to its heroic subject, linking the figure of Valerius to larger social issues of the time, such as valor and power. The material, the process, and the image itself are all interwoven, showing that craft is not separate from the art, but essential to its meaning.