Wapenschild met twee allegorische figuren en putti 1750 - 1803

This print, made by Giovanni Volpato, depicts a coat of arms with allegorical figures and putti. It's an etching, meaning the design was incised into a metal plate, likely copper, using acid to bite the lines, then printed onto paper. The fineness of the lines speaks to Volpato's skill as a printmaker, and the original drawing on which the print was based. Look closely, and you'll notice the incredible detail, achieved through hatching and cross-hatching. This was painstaking work! The etched line has a character all its own, different from a drawn line, lending the image a graphic quality. Etchings like these were often produced in multiples, allowing for wider distribution of imagery, and reinforcing certain aristocratic or cultural ideals. In this case, the print immortalizes heraldic symbols of power, reinforcing a specific social hierarchy. The labor involved in creating this print, and others like it, was directly tied to the maintenance of social and political systems.