Head of a Woman in Three Quarter View, from "Various heads and figures" (Diverses tétes et figures) 1650

Stefano della Bella created this print, Head of a Woman in Three Quarter View, using etching, a printmaking technique. The artist coated a metal plate with a waxy, acid-resistant substance called a ground, then drew the image into the ground with a needle. The plate was then immersed in acid, which bit into the exposed metal, creating incised lines. Etching is an indirect process; the image is not created directly on the plate, but emerges through the intervention of acid. The quality of line in etching can vary from delicate and precise to bold and gestural, depending on the duration and strength of the acid bath. The rise of printmaking was closely tied to commerce; prints were relatively cheap to produce and distribute, allowing for a wider circulation of images. In this print, the use of line and the careful modulation of light and shadow give the figure a sense of depth and volume. By understanding the materials and techniques employed, we gain insight into both the artistic skill involved and the social role of printmaking in disseminating images during this period.