The Adoration of the Magi, set before and architectural colonnade 1620 - 1650

Pietro Testa created this print, "The Adoration of the Magi," using etching, a printmaking technique that democratized image-making in the 17th century. The etching process involves coating a metal plate with a waxy ground, drawing through it with a needle, and then immersing the plate in acid. The acid bites into the exposed lines, creating grooves that hold ink. The plate is then wiped clean, leaving ink only in the etched lines. The pressure of the printing press transfers the ink to paper, creating a reversed image of the original drawing. Testa's skillful use of hatching and cross-hatching creates a range of tones and textures, from the soft glow of the angelic host to the rough garments of the kneeling magi. The architecture, landscape, and figures come to life through this intricate network of lines. Etchings like this one made art more accessible, but also relied on the skilled labor of the artist and the printer, a reminder of the complex relationship between artistic creation and the economics of print culture.