Chlodio 1620 - 1664

This print of Chlodio, an early Frankish king, was made by Stefano della Bella, probably in the 1640s. It's an etching, a printmaking technique where lines are bitten into a metal plate with acid, then filled with ink and pressed onto paper. What's interesting is how this process enables the distribution of imagery. Think of it as an early form of mass media. The fine, precise lines capture details of costume and bearing, presenting a vision of power. But it's power made reproducible, available not just to the elite, but a wider audience who could buy prints like these. Consider the labour involved: the skilled hand of the artist, the workshop where the etching was produced, and the network of commerce that brought it to market. This wasn’t just an image of a king, but a commodity in its own right. By focusing on the materiality and production of the artwork, we reveal its intricate connections to society, class, labour, and the beginnings of capitalism.