Saint Paul holding a sword and book, from "Christ and the Apostles" 1543 - 1553

Andrea Schiavone made this print, Saint Paul holding a sword and book, in the mid-16th century. He likely used an iron plate, coated with wax, then scratched an image into the wax with a tool called a burin. The plate was then submerged in acid, which bit into the exposed metal. This is how the image was created: through a carefully controlled process of corrosion. Note how the etched lines vary in depth and thickness, creating a rich texture. The artist skillfully manipulates the etching process to create tonal variations, giving depth and volume to the figure. It's a relatively reproducible medium, but the artist could control the final appearance and how the acid would bite into the plate, giving each impression a unique quality. Schiavone was deeply involved in the commercial print market in Venice. Think about this image as a kind of commodity, made through a labor-intensive process, and sold to a wide audience. The print medium allowed for the mass production and distribution of images, making art accessible to a broader public. This print, therefore, isn't just an aesthetic object, but also a testament to the ingenuity and labor that went into its making.