Doop van Christus 1627

Giovanni Battista Mercati made this etching of the baptism of Christ in Rome, around 1627. It's a work of ink on paper, of course, but it also reflects the complex processes through which images could be made, and widely distributed, in the early modern period. Note the fine, closely-hatched lines. These are produced by repeatedly drawing a fine needle across a copper plate, then inking the plate and running it through a press. A process that requires considerable skill and patience. The resulting print could then be sold at relatively low cost. In fact, this print includes a dedication to a patron, suggesting that it was also intended to circulate among an elite audience. So, in this single sheet, we see both the hand of the artist, and the hand of the market, brought together. This etching is a testament to the intricate dance between artistic creation, patronage, and distribution, blurring the lines between fine art and commercial production.