Two eagles, one with prey, from 'Eagles' (Les aigles) 1646 - 1656

Stefano della Bella made this print, 'Two Eagles, One with Prey,' in the 17th century, using etching. This intaglio process involves covering a metal plate with a waxy ground, scratching an image into it, and then bathing the plate in acid. The acid bites away the exposed metal, leaving behind incised lines that hold ink. Notice how della Bella varies the etched lines, creating darker tones where the eagles' feathers bunch and blend, and lighter tones to suggest the landscape. The fineness of line attainable with etching allowed for the distribution of images like this one. But consider the economic system it implies: skilled labor, specialized tools, and a market for prints. Etchings like this connected artists to a wider world, participating in a burgeoning visual culture. This system elevated the status of the artist, but also implicated them within flows of labor and consumption. The making of this etching, therefore, blurs the boundaries of the art object, craft process, and wider social context.